December 5 - January 7, 2021
From Archway Gallery:
“Archway Gallery presents Resonance, featuring new woven artworks by Laura Viada on view from December 5, 2020 through January 7, 2021.
Laura Viada’s first solo exhibition at Archway Gallery explores the theme of “resonance,” as both a physical phenomenon and as an emotional, transcendent component of human creativity. Laura is an artist who works in the medium of fiber, primarily as a handweaver. Using linen, silk, cotton, and metallic threads as her “paints” she creates visually complex artworks using the simple elements of basic geometric form and the interaction of color.
Resonance occurs when one object is vibrating at the same natural frequency as a second object and pushes that second object into vibrational motion. It is both a cause and a quality of sound in musical instruments, and the phenomenon by which color is perceived. When an object’s natural vibrational frequency matches that of a point on the visible spectrum, light waves hitting the object cause that frequency to be reflected. Laura has long studied and explored the way the human eyes and brain receive and interpret those reflected frequencies as specific color, and how they blend color through a process known as optical mixing. The artworks in this exhibition all reflect that exploration.
When we are moved or inspired by something – a speech, a poem, an image, a piece of music – we often say that it “resonates” with us. It has touched us and evoked an emotional response. This exhibition is Laura’s homage to the three artists whose lives and work have most resonated with her – who have touched her and inspired her to respond in her own creative language: Josef Albers, Anni Albers, and Carlos Cruz Diez. Each piece in this exhibition is dedicated to one of these three artists.
This exhibition is presented in conjunction with 32@32, a series of concerts celebrating the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, with pianist Adam Golka. Adam, 32 years old, will perform the full cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas over a series of recitals in the gallery during the month of December. This event’s coinciding with her first solo show at Archway, inspired Laura to explore “resonance” as a theme. “My earliest memories involve Beethoven’s symphonies,” Laura recalls. “My mother played them constantly on our record player. I could identify the symphonies before I could walk, and have been told that I did so, rather imperiously, from my highchair! To say that Beethoven’s music resonates with me is an understatement. To this day he is by far my favorite composer and I never tire of his music, no matter how many times I’ve heard a particular piece.” In addition to being dedicated to a specific artist, each piece in this exhibition bears a title referencing the music and Adam’s performances. The goal is to create a complete and cohesive artistic experience.
Laura Viada is a handweaver and fiber artist who creates works of art in natural fibers and metallics. While taking a pause from a demanding career in law, she discovered weaving, fell in love with the world of fiber and never looked back. For the past 25 years, Laura has been an active member of Texas’ fiber art community. Her work has been exhibited nationally and has won numerous awards. In 2008, she spent 9 months as an Artist-in-Residence at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and served on the Center’s Artist-in Residence Selection Panel from 2013 to 2015. Laura joined Archway Gallery in December 2017. This is her first solo exhibition at Archway.
ABOUT ARCHWAY GALLERY Artist owned and operated since 1976. Archway Gallery, one of Houston’s, and the nation’s, oldest artist-owned and operated galleries, is located at 2305 Dunlavy and is open Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. Since 1976, Archway Gallery has been exhibiting the work of the area’s finest artists, providing a great selection of affordable, high quality art including sculpture, pottery, and painting in a variety of media and styles. One of the more than 30 gallery artists is always on site, providing visitors a unique opportunity to meet the artists who created the work, offering a personal insight into the process. Each month features a special exhibition highlighting a gallery artist(s). The public is invited to the monthly opening receptions that celebrate the new installations and work, usually held the first Saturday of each month from 5 – 8 p.m. In addition to monthly exhibitions, Archway also hosts a variety of demonstrations and monthly readings for local writers and authors, as well as a “Tea and Tour” program, providing visitors with a free artist-led tour of the current exhibition, followed by tea and refreshments. With 30+ artists, Archway Gallery is THE destination in the Houston area for affordable art directly from the artist. For more information, visit ArchwayGallery.com or call 713.522.2409. Like Archway Gallery on Facebook.
Artist talk: December 5, 2020 | 6:30–7:30 pm
Virtual event at ArchwayGallery.com or Facebook Live
2305-A Dunlavy
Houston, 77006 TX
(713) 522-2409
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