In Stoughton, Wisconsin, the Abel Contemporary gallery is unveiling a curatorial triptych that intertwines material memory, pictorial diversity, and fantastical worlds. This hybrid exhibition aptly illustrates the creative vitality of the local art scene, drawing a clear line between the power of memory, the renewal of the canvas, and a rich imagination, all elevated by the artist’s craft.
The Imprint of Time: Memory as Material
The first section brings together Glynnis Lessing and Juan Alejandro Fried Ortiz de Zarate in the exhibition “Memento.” This project revolves around the souvenir object—that material relic that outlives the experience it crystallizes. True to the Latin root of the term, the exhibition explores the imperative to remember and the delicate tension between preservation and erasure.
In her practice, ceramicist Glynnis Lessing seeks to extract her memories from her personal history to give them a universal and enduring dimension. Trained at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota, she engages in a dialogue with the work of Juan Alejandro Fried Ortiz de Zarate. An architect and artist of Venezuelan origin, Fried Ortiz de Zarate extends this reflection through a nuanced approach to space and materials, informed by his studies in Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
Far from being a mere aesthetic exercise, their dialogue explores what remains when an event, a place, or a person fades from view. In an era saturated by the fleeting nature of images, the materiality of ceramics and objects almost stands as a true act of resistance, which gives them their full depth.
Painting: A Spectrum of Ongoing Experimentation
The second exhibition celebrates the fifth edition of the Painting Invitational, bringing together a diverse group of artists with eclectic mediums and visual languages. Tony Conrad, Deb Gottschalk, Rachael Griffin, Charles Munch, Dennis Nechvatal, Kassandra Palmer, Trina May Smith, and Skyler Simpson bring their unique voices to life within the same space.
While this exhibition format follows a classic tradition of American galleries in taking the pulse of contemporary art, its appeal here lies in the interplay of influences. The canvas absorbs inspirations that far transcend its traditional framework.
This selection skillfully reminds us that painting is constantly reinventing itself, drawing on friction and contradictions in a perpetual renewal of its own medium.
The Baroque Exuberance of a Suspended Imagination
The third body of work, titled “Dragon Cove” and created by Stephon Ashley, showcases a decidedly fantastical aesthetic. From the ArtWorking studios in Madison, this self-taught artist has crafted thousands of three-dimensional sculptures over the past decade. He assembles his figures from a motley assortment of materials ranging from simple pipe cleaners to plaster, clay, and fiber.
The result is a richly immersive installation where dreamlike creatures, in vibrant colors, seem to float in an aerial ballet. Inspired by his dreams, these figures—each with its own name and personality—bear witness to remarkable artisanal skill. This profusion, with its almost baroque exuberance, invites the viewer to lose themselves in a web of details and surprises, fully embracing its maximalist approach.
A Hybrid and Enduring Resonance
Designed to reflect the spirit of the times, this triptych adopts a hybrid format. The digital accessibility of the works, coupled with scheduled meet-and-greets with the artists, complements the physical gallery experience. This duality is perfectly in tune with the evolution of contemporary art spaces, allowing the gallery to forge connections with a broader audience while preserving the physical encounter with the artwork—an essential experience when it comes to appreciating the texture of a ceramic piece or the volume of a sculptural installation.
Located on East Main Street, Abel Contemporary thus reaffirms a discerning curatorial approach that prioritizes the artist’s craftsmanship, the intimate narrative, and the object’s powerful presence. Without ostentation, it offers a coherent narrative in which the material and the creative act come together to convey a message of quiet yet undeniable power.