Orly Genger September 22, 2004 | Archives Last night we visited with artist Orly Genger to view her first solo show at Elizabeth Dee gallery. Orly has become recognized for her intricate woven sculptures, crocheted into familiar yet unidentifiable forms with just her fingers; however, Genger is quick to dismiss the assumptions people make upon hearing the word “crochet,” as her work transcends those associations. While many reviews of her work have focused on it through a feminist lens, Genger believes, to a certain extent, her work can be seen as feminist, but that is not the full scope of it. The muscularity and size of the sculptures, which are sometimes larger than the artist herself, do more to strengthen the feminist argument than obvious references to her methodology. In speaking about her work, Genger states that much of the process is intuitive and concerned with problem solving, and it is only after the work is completed that she can recognize it’s significance. Her choice of materials range from ribbons to climbing rope and vary from piece to piece, as do the shapes the works take, which Genger strives to make unique from anything found in nature. The show also includes several drawings, which Orly approaches with the same thinking as her sculptures. Although both mediums share similar forms and ideas, the drawings are not plans for her sculptures, but exist as their own body of work. While we often visit artists at their gallery shows, we don’t often hear from a young artist at her first show exhibited and a young gallerist, such as Elizabeth Dee. Elizabeth addressed the concerns that she takes in choosing her artists, and the pressures and responsibilities of directing a first solo show. She notes that she believes in representing artists of her own generation, as she can better understand the social and cultural environment in which those artists are creating work. Orly Genger runs at Elizabeth Dee Gallery through October 9. Her print work can also be seen through ULAE at www.ulae.com Back To Blog Main Page   Past Entries 2007 Archives Back To Blog Main Page