Untitled by Walter Kresnik, 2015, ink and marker on paper, 22 x 14.5 inches
Sophie Appel and Cole Solinger of Delaplane curated a show all about rhythm and movement
Curating an exhibition at Creativity Explored is all about that sense of discovery. Anyone who has shopped the bursting portfolios in the CE studio knows the wondrous moment when you find a piece of art that speaks to you.
Guest curators Sophie Appel and Cole Solinger of Delaplane experienced this magical moment when they came across a unique body of work by former artist Walter Kresnik – these drawings shared compositional elements with other artists’ work.
Tucked away in our collection was a series created by Kresnik inspired by music. In 2015, former Executive Director Amy Taub curated Forte, an exhibition of artwork that used sheet music as a visual reference. As with many experimental practices in the studio, lots of artists participated in the exercise, Kresnik included.
Following the discovery of Kresnik’s musical drawings, the duo also found a unique instrument created by teaching artist Victor Cartegena. The percussive instrument was created from a cymbal on a stand with extra arms donning bells, chimes, springs, and other noise-making objects. Cartagena and artists play the instrument during Thursday music hour – a joyful and chaotic studio jam session.
Suddenly, for Appel and Solinger, all the pieces fell into place. The duo scoured the collections for art that evoked song and rhythm, looking for artwork to accompany Kresnik’s delicate drawings. Join us to experience SONG, an instrumental exhibition featuring eclectic sculptures, melodic drawings, and a cacophonous musical instrument created by teaching artist Victor Cartagena.
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Featured Artists: Walter Kresnik, Andrew Bixler, Elana Cooper, Ricardo Estella, Claus Groeger, Delia Liu, Michael Bernard Loggins, Hiroshi Onodera, Yolanda Ramirez, Miyuki Tsurukawa, Evelyn Reyes, Andrew Wong, and teaching artist Victor Cartagena
Untitled by Walter Kresnik, 2013, watercolor and marker on paper, 18 x 22.25 inches
“Like a flower has its petals, in creating this show we are making a composition of other compositions, vignettes of imagery we feel embody the thematic experience we both felt upon first seeing the work of Walter Kresnik and friends.”
Exhibition Programs
SAturday, August 27 | 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Make experimental music using adaptive technologies with Creativity Explored and composer Matt Robidoux at Mission Synths. Register here for this free event ▸
SONG Curator Walkthrough
Join exhibition curators Sophie Appel and Cole Solinger of Delaplane for a short tour of the show.
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About the curators
Cole Solinger is a poet and curator living in San Francisco, an alumnus of SFAI class of 2016, and co-founder of Delaplane. Sophie Appel is a poet, curator, and archivist based in Oakland and co-founder of Delaplane.
Delaplane was founded by Sophie Appel and Cole Solinger in Summer of 2019, and recently closed its doors in March 2022. During its tenure, the gallery exhibited 57 artists from the Bay Area and abroad, established a rotating flag residency, and hosted a variety of performances and live events. Delaplane is honored to be welcomed as guest curators at Creativity Explored, and present SONG for the public's enjoyment.
More information about the exhibition
Untitled by Claus Groeger, ca. 2014-15, mixed media and found object sculpture, 3 x 7 x 4 inches
While the work of Walter Kresnik takes center stage in the exhibition, a chorus of his peers provides a wondrous and textural symphony of artworks that spotlights the unique styles of individual artists.
A series of sculptures by Claus Groeger made between 2014-15 employ the use of electrical wiring, metal tools, screws, and fountain pen tips. The sculptures bring to mind the electronic gadgets, loopers, and adapters used by sound producers and guitarists. The repetition of forms and objects implies an instrumentality all their own.
Untitled by Yolanda Ramirez, 2014, oil pastel on paper, 19 x 15 inches
Two oil pastel drawings by Yolanda Ramirez juxtapose an image of classic ballerina slippers with an abstract drawing of overlapping black starbursts. The viewer can almost imagine the sounds of feet slapping the ground in step each burst.
An arrangement of eclectic sculptures by Elena Cooper, Michael Bernard Loggins, Andrew Wong, Ricardo Estella add a whimsical tone to the orchestra of artworks on display in the gallery. A double-sided ceramic cow figure by Estella, wooden floral silhouettes by Cooper, and the ceramic words “JUNE” and “JULY” by Wong set the scene for Kresnik’s symphony.
A landline phone with messages written in marker by Michael Bernard Loggins exclaims random phrases: “Life is Real”, “Life if Cool”, “Don’t Play with Fire,” “Seasons Greetings,” “Hot Fun in the Summer Time,” and “Please Enjoy This Art.”
The curators state, “The human energy felt in the works selected for Song is hard to deny, not simply because they were made by humans, but because they employ the senses in a unique way; like a melody stuck in your head, or living by mimesis.”
The custom and cacophonous instrument created by teaching artist Victor Cartagena plays a central role in the exhibition — unifying the audio-themed visual artworks with an actual instrument that creates sound. The instrument was created as part of Creativity Explored’s weekly music hour.
Each week CE artists gather in the back of the studio in a big circle and begin making music. The studio comes alive with an explosion of musical and percussive sounds, singing and chanting voices, and lots of laughter. Cartagena’s instrument is made from a tambourine on a stand with bells, chimes, and noisemakers attached to arms. People play it with drumsticks or hands – whatever makes the best sounds! The weekly ritual can only be described as joyful and communal. For artists and teachers, the music hour is not only a lot of fun but a way to connect with one another that transcends language.
The exhibition aims to capture the whistful joy and cathartic release of group music-making. Join us at the Creativity Explored gallery to explore this thoughtful and poetic exhibition.