Opening Reception: "PAINTRESS" & "Support System"

PAINTRESS - Caslon Bevington & Craig White

Ki Smith Gallery invites you to the opening reception of PAINTRESS on Saturday, May 11th, 2024, featuring new works by artists Caslon Bevington and Craig White in a duo exhibition. PAINTRESS is the culmination of years of conversations, overlapping interests, and shared impulses in art making, exploring lens- and post-lens-based image capturing as well as the political and historical challenges inherent in the production visual culture.

Through years of research and friendship, both artists draw from their personal image banks to incorporate photography, post-digital art, and AI influence. Anchored in the history of image production—from painting to photography (e.g., "Video Killed the Radio Star")—Caslon and Craig delve into the hierarchies of ‘resolution’, developing new language for understanding material and image-as-material.

“Leopards break into the temple and drink to the dregs what is in the sacrificial pitchers; this is repeated over and over again; finally it can be calculated in advance, and it becomes a part of the ceremony.” ―Franz Kafka, The Zürau Aphorisms (1931). For the artists, the gallery serves as the metaphorical temple, where they playfully disrupt the sacred space. Through constant revision and editing (this act of sabotage), their work is incorporated into the whole, both sanctified in a sense and rendered innocuous in another.

Support System - Tim Okamura

"Support System" is a compelling exhibition that delves into the vital role of relationships within the dynamic landscape of New York City, and other urban centers. Through the lens of artist Tim Okamura, the showcase explores the profound significance of these connections, akin to familial bonds, in bolstering and sustaining us amidst our complex journeys.

This collection aims to encapsulate the essence of "finding your tribe" and the enduring solidarity of "ride or die" relationships. His artistry portrays the resilience and strength derived from these connections, essential for not only survival but also flourishing within the challenging urban milieu we navigate. "Support System" invites viewers to reflect on the profound impact of friendship networks as pillars of support, offering solace, and encouragement along life's journey.