Zero Balance Frog – 6 X 7 X 7″ Welded steel and unsolicited credit cards

March 6-9, 2014

Frederieke Taylor Gallery is pleased to present Sculpture and Collage by CHRISTY RUPP at the VOLTA NY Art Fair March 6 – 9, 2014 at 82 Mercer Street, NY, NY.

Christy Rupp is known as a socially and politically engaged artist. She participated in the legendary “The Times Square Show” and “The Real Estate Show” of 1979-80 and was affiliated with Colab and Group Material. The artist creates exquisite sculptures and collages, while simultaneously raising important global and environmental issues.

Christy Rupp’s recent work includes a series of sculptures of filter feeding organisms from the Gulf of Mexico created from welded steel and encaustic wax. The new work examines varieties of planktonic microfauna living near the site of the Macondo well blowout in 2010 and highlights the effects of bio-accumulation. The series includes, among others, Crab Zoa, Shrimp Larvae, Mussels, & Jellyfish.

In another series, the artist explores the relationship between ivory and energy extraction. These sculptures were made in response to threats presented by drilling, and the very real occurrence of diminishing habitat for threatened species at the top of the food chain, many of which are then poached for their tusks. The Fake Ivory Series, made from welded steel and encaustic wax, are sculptures of different types of trophies bound with scrimshaw or tattoo-like images of methane and carbon chemical chains, as a commentary on the value placed on energy over life of all species.

In order to give the new work historical context, the gallery will show video and documentation of Christy Rupp’s public art projects from the early 80’s Times Square show and Colab period.

Recent notable shows include “Dead or Alive” at the Museum of Arts and Design, NY 2010, “Dear Mother Nature” at the Dorsky Museum of Art, SUNY New Paltz, NY 2012, “This Will Have Been: Art, Love & Politics in the 1980’s”, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL 2012, “American Dreamers” Pallazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy w/ Hudson River Museum, and “XFR STN” Transfer Station at the New Museum, NY 2013, among numerous others.

VOLTA NY
82 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10013

March 6-9, 2014

FAIR HOURS:
Thursday March 6: Preview 11am-5pm (By Invitation Only
Open to public with Volta or Armory Show pass- 6-9 PM
Friday/Saturday March 7, 8: 10am – 8pm
Sunday March 9: 10am – 5pm