Going Green with Yolanda Green
“Natural Recyclers” and “Wasted Resolve” Art Exhibitions
Featuring two installations by Divya Murthy and Nicola Parente
Houston, Texas – Art League Houston announced the opening of "Natural Recyclers," which features an earth media installation by Divya Murthy and Nicola Parente, created for the Art League patio, and its accompanying installation. "Wasted Resolve," takes place in the ALH project gallery, Nov. 13 through Dec. 3. "Natural Recyclers" is a long-term project, and the first installation to take place in the Art League Patio since it opened to the public in 2008.
"Natural Recyclers" opened in conjunction with "Obsession of the Essential," which features the mixed media works of Brent Kollock, in Art League Houston's Main Gallery.
Using mainly recyclable and renewable resources, Parente and Murthy have created a site specific installation for the Art League Patio, consisting of three giant mushrooms, whose bases are fabricated from rebar, soil and moss. The mushroom caps and stems are planted with Texas native and non-native, edible and herb plants. The use of the mushroom reflects the important role the fungi play in the ecosystem through its use of decomposing materials as its source of nourishment. Parente and Murthy feel that the mushroom and its symbiotic relationship with the root structures of plants is the ideal symbolic gesture to promote environmental consciousness within our community.
"Wasted Resolve," an installation created by Parente and Murthy for the front gallery, is inspired by a 2008 New York Times article that ranked Houston as the worst recycler among the nation's 30 largest cities. "Wasted Resolve" is a visual categorized summary of un-recycled waste created from debris collected during a week-long period from an eight-block area surrounding Art League Houston. The intent of "Wasted Resolve" is to make the viewer more aware of our city's waste consumption and to create a dialogue with the audience that focuses attention on the importance of reducing waste.
About the Artists
In 2000, Divya Murthy graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston, with a Minor in Art History. In 2006 she received an M.F.A. in Studio Art from the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts University in Boston. Her photographs, videos, and installations have been exhibited throughout the United States at venues that include the Galveston Arts Center, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Baltimore Contemporary Museum, and the Blaffer Museum at the University of Houston. Her awards include a 2006 Yousuf Karsh Prize in Photography, First Place from the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship from the Houston Center for Photography, and a 2005 AIGA World Studio Foundation Grant.
Born in Mola di Bari, Italy in 1966, Nicola Parente currently lives and works in Houston. He has a B.A. from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Earlier this year, Parente's work was exhibited in Transparent/Translucent, curated by Wade Wilson at the Museum Gallery, University of Texas, San Antonio. In 2008 he collaborated with the Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in designing and creating the set for the world premier production of Terminus, a dance inspired by Parente's paintings. The artist's work is represented by Gremillion & Co., Fine Art, and can be found in public and private collections in the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Ethiopia.
About Art League Houston
Art League Houston is one of Houston's longest operating non-profit visual arts organizations and was the first alternative art space in Texas. Founded in 1948 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1953, Art League Houston (ALH) was created to promote the public appreciation of and interest in the visual arts. During the past 61 years, ALH has provided over 760 exhibitions to the Houston community, showcased the work of nearly 22,200 artists, and instructed over 35,000 students through the Art League School and Outreach Program.
Photo: Mushrooms Installation, Photograph from Art League Houston
Copyright © 2009, KIAH-TV
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