Paper: Beyond the Boundaries
Fold, Paper, Scissors Exhibition highlights
everyday material transformed into visually
stunning artworks.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum presents Fold, Paper, Scissors, an exhibition showcasing works that range from complex and precisely cut paper “drawings,” to mathematically mind-boggling folds, to works created from a single sheet of paper. The artists in this exhibition push the boundaries of this sparse material far beyond the limits of its everyday purpose.
The “paper folders” tend to be analytical, fascinated by the connections their artworks have to mathematics and engineering. While the “folders” turn two-dimensional paper into three-dimensional objects, the “paper cutters” use scissors or blades in a reductive process to remove areas creating expressive, often very detailed, works from a material that is often taken for granted, used then discarded during the course of our daily lives.
Paper cutting’s origins date back as early as 4th century China and many cultures across Asia, Europe and North America have used paper cutting in a variety of techniques as a form of art, decoration or as a part of celebration and ceremony. Contemporary artists have only recently begun exploring paper as an expressive medium.
Artists in the exhibition include Jaq Belcher, Lucrezia Bieler, Charles Clary, Beatrice Coron, Martin Demaine, Erik Demaine, Reni Gower, Bovey Lee, Tahiti Pehrson, Teresa Redden, Matthew Shlian, Jane South, Noriko Takamiya and Annie Vought.
Fold, Paper, Scissors
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
One East Main St., Mesa
Sphere, Teresa Ilene Redden
Patiflasmic Phlebotomy, Charles Clay
Acrylique and hand-cut paper on panel
Peacock Pose, Béatrice Coron, 2013
Cut Tyvek tryptich, 44 x 44 inches each panel
About Mesa Arts Center
Owned and operated by the City of Mesa, Mesa Arts Center is a unique, architecturally stunning facility located in the heart of downtown Mesa. As Arizona's largest arts center, it is home to four theaters, five art galleries and 14 art studios. The Mesa Arts Center mission is to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible and relevant. Mesa Arts Center has received numerous awards and accolades including the “2012 Venue of Excellence” by the International Association of Venue Managers.
For more information, visit mesaartscenter.com.