AUGUST 7 – 28
ALICIA LISA BROWN, WILL GABALDON, LUCIA LOVE, BABETTE RITTENBERG, RHIAN PRITCHARD, SARAH SARCHIN
Sanitary Tortilla Factory is excited to present Polycephaly, a group show of painters and multimedia artists that features human heads in some form. From traditional portraits, to the wild, raucous distortions of surreal cartoon figures- Polycephaly, is the condition in which a creature, human or animal, has multiple heads. The work in the exhibition shares a superficial theme of figuration, while simultaneously being deeply divergent in thought and approach. In conjunction with the show, there will be a scheduled series of online artist conversations that aims to facilitate inter art community dialogue. All of the presented artists are based in cities around the country and will discuss their work with a local Albuquerque based artist. The video talks will explore various themes, subject matter, and processes, as well as observations on the impact of the current historical climate on their local arts communities. Albuquerque video participants include: Frank Blazquez, Jodie Herrera, Jessamyn Lovell, Earl McBride, Helen Atkins and Nancy Zastudil. Polycephaly is curated by Hannah Bluhm.
Exhibition
Alicia Lisa Brown was born in St. Ann, Jamaica, studied at NYAA and currently lives and works in Florida. Brown’s vibrant and deft paintings examine the concept of mimicry found in nature and applies it to the human world, elaborating on the historical tensions of appropriation, class, colonization and self agency. (CV)
Will Gabaldon, born and raised in Belen, New Mexico, currently resides in Chicago. He is a graduate of both UNM and UPenn. Gabaldon’s paintings are intimate and familial, yet often contain a cool, subtle, self-restrained humor. They are painted with an equally restrained palette and are formally considered. (CV)
Lucia Love, an alumna of SVA lives in New York City . She is the co-host of the playful, queer and rigorous podcast Art and Labor with O.K. Fox as well as the founder of the free art school Constructing The Real. Love’s eclectic style pulls inspiration from comics, horror films, and mysticism to conjure strange imaginary worlds. (CV)
Babette Rittenberg is a native of New Orleans, attended the NY Studio School and studied sculpture in Umbria, Italy. Rittenberg’s work has an atemporal quality, resulting in work that speaks to contemporary ceramics and modernism as easily as it does to ancient, archeological artifacts. (Bio)
Rhian Pritchard was born and raised in the UK, schooled in Wales and now lives in New York City. Her work can be described as a conflation of Ken Price forms with the sensibilities of Louise Bourgeois, having been run through a machine. Pritchard’s work is materialized utilizing 3D printing technology. (Bio)
Sarah Sarchin is an LA based and UCLA trained who creates paintings that are, in essence, oscillation machines. The work is conceptually kinetic, flipping the viewer’s attention between the content of gendered art history and celebrity memes back to the surface of color, brushwork and shape, never resting on either. (CV)
Price List
Alicia Lisa Brown :
“Cameal”, oil on canvas, 12 x 12, 2020, $1,200. 2. “Picket Fence”, charcoal on Strathmore paper, 46 x 34, 2017, $1,800. 3. “Dominique”, oil on canvas, 12 x 12, 2020, $1,200. 4. “Specimen 2”, charcoal on paper, mounted on gold paper doily, 10.5” diameter, $250. 5. “Portrait of a Lady”, print edition of 10, Paper size: 17 x 25, Image size: 21 x 28, Archival pigment on Moab Entrada 100% hot press cotton rag paper $225.
Will Gabaldon :
“Two Shadows”, oil on linen, 28″ x 34″, 2013, $1,000. 2. “Snow Hill”, oil on linen, 11″ x 12″, 2018, $500. 3. “Rock Pile”, oil on linen, 28″ x 34″, 2014, $1,000. 4. “Hill”, oil on linen, 11″ x 12″, 2018, $500. 5. “WGMG”, oil on linen, 24″ x 30″, 2016, NFS.
Lucia Love :
“The Look”, oil on panel, 18″ x 24″ 2019, NFS. 2. “Hotdog”, gouache and ink on paper, 9″ x 12″ 2020, $600. 3. “Spancil”, oil on canvas, 48″ x 60″ 2016. NFS. 4. “US Mercy And The 5 Demands”, 2020, $600. 5. “Titty Time”, gouache and ink on paper, 9″ x 12″ 2020, $600.
Babette Rittenberg :
“Wildflower”, 10” x 6” x 11”, ceramic , 2017, $895., 2. “Hanging bubbles”, 12” x 12” x 5”, ceramic, 2017, $595. 3. “Haiku Tattoo Split Head “ We bind ourselves to others” , 2017, $975. 4. “Four faced”, 8” x 9” x 5”, ceramic, 2017, $695. 5. “Dilated eyes”, 10” x 10” x 9”, ceramic, 2017, $895.
Rhian Pritchard :
“Moonbase” (2020): 3d printed parts (Full color sandstone, Multi Jet Fusion Plastic, PA12) and copper gilding. (h:10” l: 9.5” w: 5”) $600. 2. “Yellow Lady” (2018): 3D printed parts (Full color sandstone, 3d printed steel), (h:10.5” l: 9” w: 6”) NFS. 3. “Skate”(2018): 3D printed parts (full color sandstone) glitter and resin base. (h: 8” l: 7” w: 5”) NFS. 4. “Hackles” (2019): 3d printed parts (Full color sandstone, Multi Jet Fusion Plastic, PA12) and horse hair. (h: 5” l: 4” w:2.5”) $120. 5. “Mistletoe” (2020): 3d printed parts (Full color sandstone, Multi Jet Fusion Plastic, PA12) with 23ct. gold gilding and spray paint.(h: 13” l: 10” w: 7”) NFS.
Sarah Sarchin :
“Untitled”, Oil on canvas, 12 x 9 in., 2017, $1,800. 2. “Smoking Head II “, Oil on canvas, 24 x 20 in. 2020, $3,600. 3. “Untitled”, Oil on Canvas, 20 x 24 in., 2019, $3,600. 4. “WOMAN WALKS UP STAIRS “, Oil on canvas, 12 x 9 in., 2017, $1,800. 5.“Buckingham Nicks” Oil on canvas, 12 x 12 in., 2018, $2,000.
Artists Talks
Alicia Lisa Brown & Jessamyn Lovell
Conceptual and performative based photographer Jessamyn Lovell talks with figurative painter Alicia Lisa Brown about identity theft, the survival tool of mimicry, and their shared fascination with the ways people navigate and shift in new spaces.
Polycephaly: Will Gabaldon & Helen Atkins
Painter Will Gabaldon and multi-media and community artist Helen Atkins discuss their early experiences of participating in the city of Albuquerque’s mural program, their mutual interests in both painting and ceramics, and the various readings of the human form as both a body and a presence.
Polycephaly: Lucia Love & Earl McBride
In this episode, abstract painter Earl McBride enjoys a long chat with artist Lucia Love. The two artists explore each other’s artistic influences and working practices as well as contemplate the existence of ghosts, the magic of Houdini, kinks, anime logic, and the generative model of avian nourishment.
Polycephaly: Frank Blazquez & Babette Rittenberg
Short documentary filmmaker and photographer Frank Blazquez speaks with sculpture artist Babette Rittenberg about what it means to create work about a people, the difference in imaginative versus documentary portraiture, and the social significance of skin adornment.
Polycephaly: Jodie Herrera & Rhian Pritchard
International muralist, and multimedia artist Jodie Herrera has a conversation with three dimensional and paint based artist Rhian Pritchard. The conversation touches on the use of digital technology in the creation of artwork, as well as the role of process, research and freedom. The two artists also meditate on the impact of place and the joy of a proper cup of tea.
Polycephaly: Sarah Sarchin & Nancy Zastudil
Painter Sarah Sarchin engages in a dialogue with curator and arts writer Nancy Zastudil. Together they trace back the circular origins and histories that form the basis of many of Sarchins game theory-like moves, gestures and visual puns deployed in her work. They also comment on the changes that have been placed on the arts, as well as on the act of viewing.