TBA: Sasha Wortzel: Dreams of Unknown Islands
I will never not be charmed by the experience of holding a seashell up to my ear “to listen to the ocean,” even though I know the sound I’m hearing is my own blood rushing through my head. Florida artist Sasha Wortzel must feel the same way, judging by the 3D-printed conch shells featured in their exhibition Dreams of Unknown Islands. Instead of mimicking the tides, Wortzel’s shells whisper traditional Jewish prayers of spiritual fortitude in the face of grief, recited by the artist’s friends and family. The grief in question here is the ecological kind—the kind of sadness you might feel when wildfire smoke wafts into town each summer, or when wetlands get paved over by luxury resorts. Video projections of sunsets and sea turtles contribute to a peaceful, meditative atmosphere conducive to working through tough emotions.
by Martha DaghlianReed Chapel, Reed College / Capacity: 150
Exhibition Opening: Sept 10, 1:00-3:00 pm
Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed College / Capacity: 40
Read more of our top picks for the 2022 TBA Festival here.