Media Contact:
Timothy Brown
Hillyer Director
hillyerdirector@artsandartists.org
PRESS RELEASE
“Newly Selected Artists: Kelley O’Brien, Chris Combs, and Wa PaPo: David Allen Harris and Lyric Prince Harris,” July 8–July 30, 2023. The opening reception is Friday, July 7, 2023 (“First Friday”), 6 to 8 p.m.
Left to Right: Kelley O’Brien | | Chris Combs | Wa Po: David Allen Harris and Lyric Prince
Kelley O’Brien
Residence Time
In 2014 it was reported that an unknown quantity of the carcinogen “dioxane 1,4” had leaked into the Cape Fear River Basin contaminating the drinking water of over one million people. Despite the known risks of liver/kidney damage and death, dioxane 1,4 remains unregulated at the city, state, and federal level. This project investigates the city’s complicity in violence, both against humans and the environment, in support of the industries that fund Greensboro. As a highly miscible (i.e. mixes well) substance in water that does not readily biodegrade in the environment, dioxane 1,4 is virtually undetectable without scientific equipment, however in large volumes it has a distinct smell. Often described as sickly sweet like overripe fruit, the scent of dioxane 1,4 envelopes the viewer in the waters laden with unseen state-sanctioned violence. Through overlapping social, environmental, and industrial concerns this installation illustrates that all local actions flow out to sea.
The project was organized In collaboration with Marcus Brathwaite: Sound Design; Kevin Vanek: Metal Fabrication; Nick Rutz: Image Fabrication; and Kathleen Block: Assistant Videographer.
Chris Combs
Supercycle
In Supercycle, artist Chris Combs explores visions of the future: both manipulative optimism, as employed by cryptocurrency boosters and AI entrepreneurs, and the cynical visions of “doomers.”
The sculptural works in this show often incorporate interactive or time-based electronics, which include circuit boards designed and soldered by the artist. Accompanying artifacts also employ a breadth of mediums, such as dot-matrix prints and cast aluminum.
Wa Po: David Allen Harris and Lyric Prince Harris
The Three Sisters
Over the course of the Wa PaPo project, photographer David Allen Harris and interdisciplinary artist Lyric Prince experimented with set design and patterns, along with other elements that can symbolize different ideas, feelings, and modes of expression that tell a story. For The Three Sisters series, we show the set and the storyboard on how a new sort of Earth was created from the old:
The Earth of old had passed away
And all around was death and decay
The eldest, Usir, looked around with a sigh
And from the twinkle of tears in her eyes
Clear streams of water and air thus flowed
And another sort of ground started to grow
The two other spirits watched on with glee
As the new sort of Earth came slowly to be
And while not perfect, it was still true
“The Earth, when broken
Can be easier made anew.”
Exhibition Content
Visit Hillyer’s upcoming exhibitions to learn about the featured artists.
Image Credits (Left to Right):
Kelley O’Brien, Filtration, 2022, 24 x 36 x16 in (2 of 3), powder coated aluminum, inkjet prints on acetate; Chris Combs, Cryptid Currency (5th drop), 2023, cast aluminum, 4.5 X 4.5 X 0.75 in; Wa Po: David Allen Harris and Lyric Prince, What crossed the cat’s path, 2021, photography on watercolor paper, 26 ⅔ X 40 in.
International Arts and Artists at Hillyer
Founded in 2006, IA&A at Hillyer (formerly Hillyer Art Space) is the Washington-area initiative of International Arts & Artists. Through its innovative and often provocative exhibitions and public programs, IA&A at Hillyer champions local and international artists at all stages of their careers.
IA&A at Hillyer collaborates with artists, cultural organizations, and embassies to develop and host creative, thought-provoking programs that push our understanding and reflect the uniqueness of DC as an international capital. Whether you live in Washington or are visiting, IA&A at Hillyer invites you to encounter contemporary art from the US and around the world in a welcoming, and intimate gallery setting.
Hillyer is open Tue-Sun from 12p – 6p (5p on weekends).