January 2014

Creating Space: Concept, Content, Context

Architecture: a space acknowledged by perimeters, actual or perceived. Greg Braun’s art is a direct extension of the architecture that defines a gallery — walls.

Walls of gypsum drywall become truly inert in most architectural applications. Finished and painted, they seamlessly blend into the un-noticed spatial backdrop. By utilizing this inert material to manipulate space for viewers, the walls themselves become art.

The work provides spaces to visit within the space visited. Devoid of the normal reference orthography of vertical and horizontal, the use of asymmetrical boundaries removes the viewer from conformity, revealing a new outlook into personal space. This new dynamic architecture becomes a re-definition of self, of being in a place, at a time, becoming enlightened, obtaining a new chance of freeing oneself of the box.

Conceiving the work comes through experiencing architectural spaces, studying architectural reference books, and reviewing personal photography of architectural details. Some of his works are site specific pieces that develop from the experience of a space over a period of time, compiling sunlight studies, varying sightlines, existing architectural materials and the overall perception of how a space is used by visitors. These observations are combined to form an impression for constructing new topography.

Fabricating each finished piece starts with a complex set of hand drawn sketches, architectural scale models, computer generated parts drawings and, when warranted, digital 3D renderings. These developmental tasks culminate in the assembly and painting of the finished drywall and wood constructions seen in the gallery.
This exhibit contains rarely seen examples of preliminary scale models and works on paper. The paper itself, a variety of whatever is at hand, reflects the spontaneity in capturing the idea of each piece for formal development later. The scale models are where the concept takes its first step into construction, as the sketch takes on space. In addition, a wall mounted full-size work and a site specific piece made for the existing gallery space at Hillyer are shown.

Greg Braun is an artist whose work has been exhibited in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and California. He lives and works in rural Hartwood, Virginia from a home he renovated that includes an office, workshop, and studio. His creative time is spent between creating artwork, designing custom CAD software and giving classroom instruction for various types of CAD software.

Graduating from the Corcoran School of Art in 1982 with a major in sculpture, he continued making studio art and exhibiting work at local galleries in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. He worked for several fabrication facilities, including a neon sculpture studio, until taking up a long-term career as a cabinetmaker for custom cabinetry and millwork shops in Northern Virginia. He has also worked on many exhibit fabrication projects for national museums, science centers, and corporate exhibits. In 1990, Greg began teaching himself to use AutoCAD computerized drafting software and studying the history of Mid-Century Modern architecture through web sites, books, and site visits of selected works. His current body of work is an extension of these long term architectural pursuits, creating wall mounted sculptures and site-specific installations that entice viewers into experiencing a new architectural topography.

Visit Braun’s website at grbraun.com.