Ellen Rutt and Brett Flanigan are asking, A Garden or A Grave? In the wake of climate destruction caused by the exploitation of natural resources and unnatural extreme weather events, humanity must decide whether to dig a grave with current habits and behaviors or plant a garden of new environmental policies and goals. For pt.2: LA's latest show, the two artists create a series of non-representational, abstract works that question the future of our plant in an era of ecological collapse.

Focusing on the idea of place and how experiences in the outside world translate through color, form and texture, each artist creates a series of abstract works. Brett Flanigan approaches the work by reflecting on specific places and experiences, then responding with a framework of color and composition portraying his emotions. Utilizing this substructure, he continues to explore systems through pattern probability, logic and repitition, which helps to navigate a series of informed decisions resulting in unpredictable outcomes; a process leading to a broad spectrum of work varying in material, technique, and style.

Ellen Rutt's work surrenders to possibilities and limitations of place in a tender call and response between control and improvisation. Through an abstract lexicon of layered shapes and primary colors, she facilitates conversations between materiality and movement, place and process. Her site-specific installations, mixed-media paintings, and textiles examine notions of belonging and inclusion in the perceived nature-culture divide in America.

A Garden or A Grave opens February 23, 2020, with an opening reception from 12 to 8, and is on view through March 6, 2020.

Opening Reception: February 23rd, 2020 12-8pm
Artist Talk: February 23, 2020 at 4 pm
Showing Through: March 6th, 2020

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818 N. Spring Street, #202
Los Angeles, CA 90012

 

pt. 2: LA is pleased to present A Garden or A Grave, an exhibition of new works by Brett Flanigan and Ellen Rutt. A Garden or A Grave, the exhibition's title, posits a framework in which to question the future of our planet in the era of ecological collapse and climate change. A grave, a place for decomposition, with time becomes a garden. For this exhibition, both artists focus on the idea of place and how experiences in the outside world are translated through color, form and texture. Each artist has created a type of landscape painting that is non-representational, abstracting their experiences in and with nature. Brett Flanigan approaches the work in this series by reflecting on a specific place or experience, and responding to this meditation by laying down a framework of color and composition that portrays the feeling of each. Utilizing this substructure, he continues his exploration of systems through pattern, probability, logic or repetition. These systems are a way for the artist to navigate a series of informed decisions that result in unpredictable outcomes. This process had led to a broad spectrum of work in varying materials, techniques and styles. Ellen Rutt’s work surrenders to the possibilities and limitations of place in a tender call and response between control and improvisation. Through an abstract lexicon of layered shapes and primary colors, she facilitates conversations between materiality and movement, between place and process. Her site-specific installations, mixed-media paintings, and textiles examine notions of belonging and exclusion in the perceived nature-culture divide in America.