Connecticut's artistic scene has long been a beacon of creativity, attracting renowned names like Sol LeWitt, Louise Bourgeois, and Jasper Johns. However, the state's artistic prowess extends beyond these household names, with a new generation of artists making waves in the shadows of their more famous predecessors. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum's inaugural decennial exhibition, 'The Aldrich Decennial: I am what is around me', shines a spotlight on these lesser-known artists, showcasing their diverse and thought-provoking works. This exhibition is not just a celebration of Connecticut's artistic talent but also a reflection of the state's rich cultural tapestry and the impact of geopolitical events on artists' lives and work.
One of the most striking pieces is Enrique Figueredo's 'Una enfermedad que solamente el oro puede curar (A Sickness Only Gold Can Cure)', an eight-foot outdoor sculpture that greets visitors as they enter the museum's parking lot. Made from hand-carved plywood and acrylic paint, this piece is a testament to Figueredo's ability to transform everyday materials into captivating art. Similarly, Kristy Hughes' 'Portal: Hope as Practice' is a multi-colored sculpture that evokes a sense of possibility and hope, with its 10-foot loops and inserted rocks, poems, and steel armature.
The exhibition also features works that explore life and culture in New England. Emily Larned's 'Police Others As You Would Have Others Police You' is a wall-length installation of risograph prints that documents the transformation of a New Haven Police Academy leader's training practices. Grace O'Connor's romantic paintings, created despite her battle with ALS, offer a poignant glimpse into her childhood in Waterbury and the surrounding Naugatuck Valley. Lula Mae Blocton's incorporation of African American patterns and frog motifs adds a layer of cultural significance to her work.
However, the exhibition's most compelling pieces are by immigrant artists grappling with their dual identities and the diaspora of their communities. Faustin Adeniran's 'Arewa (Elegance)' is a mosaic-like portrait created from aluminum cans, reflecting his Nigerian-American heritage. Arghavan Khosravi's acrylic paintings depict Iranian women struggling for freedom in an idyllic landscape, while Azza El Siddique's 3-D stoneware mold of an Egyptian noblewoman from the Middle Kingdom serves as a poignant reminder of the displacement of cultural artifacts.
Scott Carrillo Azevedo's mixed-media pieces, adorned with vintage glass flowers, costume jewelry, and ceramic birds, honor his Mexican-American heritage and queer identity. Aki Sasamoto's jerry-rigged fishing-line contraptions, with their devilishly jarring sound, are a reminder that surprises can abound even in the suburbs. This exhibition is a testament to the diverse and dynamic nature of Connecticut's artistic scene, offering a fresh perspective on the state's cultural landscape and the impact of geopolitical events on artists' lives and work.
