VESSEL: The Work of Brooke Schneider
STATE Gallery + Studios at The Forge
217 Willow St Nashville 37210
Opening: February 10th, 6-10pm
Run: February 10th - March 14th
This February, STATE Gallery + Studios at The Forge is proud to present Vessel: A New Exhibition from Brooke Schneider.
Brooke is a recipient of the 2023/2024 STATE Gallery + Studios residency program, the first and only program of its kind in Nashville. Vessel marks her first exhibition with The Forge and our first exhibition of 2024. The exhibition will open on Saturday, February 10th with a public reception from 6pm to 10pm, and run through March 16th, 2024.
Vessel asks two essential questions: How does memory coalesce in objects and sites? And,
how can objects deconstruct historical, communal, and personal myths?
Predominantly sculptural, these works explore how the American South is tied to the history of labor, and its relationship to collective memory. Just as our corporeal bodies are living vessels, the objects that we possess or utilize become signifiers, landmarks, touchstones - physical reminders of a life lived.
It’s here that Brooke’s sculptures carry particular significance. Selecting physical materials as carefully as she sifts through her own history, Brooke gathers found objects, flora, and everyday artifacts (tea sachets hold main court in several works) and reconstructs them into physical narratives through assembly, sculpture, and transmutation.
In her chosen media and its execution, this thematic evocation of labor is comprehensive; everything is procedurally taxing, or exceptionally delicate. As a result, Brooke’s pieces showcase not only her dedication but also the depth of her ability.
As she describes, "Through the use of historical and culturally significant materials, including indigo, collected and found objects, and clay, my work examines the inherited histories of materials and how our interactions with these things inform memory. Sewing, natural dying, traditional ceramic processes, and metal-smithing create a visual language of labor. These methods transform the conceptual approach to my work into a manual process.”
Vessel opens February 10th at STATE Gallery + Studios at The Forge; join us that evening for our reception, and please feel free to reach out with any questions. Viewing of the exhibition is available Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm, or by appointment with the Artistic Director.
See you at the show!