WHERE THINGS SET
Brattleboro Museum of Art
June 24-October 9 , 2003
In Where Things Set, Roberley Bell’s sculptures and drawings share space, allowing us to see the conversations that take place between these different bodies of work, and how integral drawing is to Bell’s practice. Bell describes drawing as ‘a way of thinking out loud.’
On paper, she works out ideas of form, color, and placement, working intuitively and searching for what feels right. The drawings feel spontaneous, and at times edgy or awkward as Bell feels her way through the gestures and shapes she puts on the page.
One thing leads to another: Bell’s drawings help her find her way to the three-dimensional forms she wishes to create. Bell creates organic forms that feel familiar, yet still resist identification. The sculptural works are amalgams– hybrid forms made from fabricated elements and found materials, with splashes of vivid, saturated color that further enhance their idiosyncrasy.
Where Things Set gives us an intimate glimpse into Bell’s creative process, from initial exploratory mark-making on paper to the realized three-dimensional forms with their varied materials, textures, and personalities. It’s an invitation to look, and to think about our own ways of making sense and finding form.
Chief Curator Sarah Freeman