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June Issue 2006
Corrigan Gallery in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Karin Olah
The
Corrigan Gallery in Charleston, SC, is pleased to present the
debut solo show for Karin Olah entitled, The Meandering Thread,
opening June 2 and continuing through June 30, 2006.
Olah is the Charleston Farmers' Market poster artist for 2006
and has been selected as one of the top ten emerging artists in
the city as part of the "Under the Radar" project by
Halsey Institute at the College of Charleston and Charleston
Magazine.
Olah creates textural abstract paintings that
elaborate on the heritage of American quilt making. Her work incorporates
materials, aesthetics and symbols borrowed from several regions
of the United States. She uses fabric, often antique textiles,
in a way that mimics the flow of paint from a brush. Translucent
layers of cottons, silks and linens blend with opaque calligraphic
brushstrokes as graphite lines intersect the surface or fade into
the suggestion of a grid. Geometric patterns balance organic forms;
rich reds, yellows and greens complement neutral earth tones.
The mixed media collages are inspired by the textural composition
of Charleston's stucco architecture, cobblestone streets, wrought
iron gates and perennial colors.
Paying attention to the metaphorical implications of working with
textiles, Olah suggests connections between quiltmaking and the
blueprint of the city mostly in an abstract manner but also with
representational pieces. While larger collages on canvas expose
a great depth of texture, the intimately scaled works on paper
pull the viewer closer to notice the importance of a meandering
thread or quiet pattern. Olah's modern approach offers a fresh
interpretation of the local setting and captures the elegance
and luminosity of the city's outlook while presenting universal
imagery of color and texture.
Originating in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
Olah's interest in Amish quilts led her to a broader study of
American textile traditions. She majored in fiber art at Maryland
Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, while focusing on printmaking
and color theory. After graduating in 1999, she managed a textile
studio in New York City developing colors and patterns for clients
including Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, and Peter Marino
Interior Architects.
Olah's creation of a "Jell-O Dress" that is featured in Jell-O: A Biography by Carolyn Wyman, Harcourt Books, 2001 started her career off well. Always working with the juxtaposition of substances and relating to fabrics and the physical composition of the world around her, Olah puts literal to abstract and visa versa. She creates layers and shapes that are interesting visually and communicate, thereby creating conversations. Textiles (made up of multiple threads) mimic the language concept threads that connect ideas that have strayed from the original concept. Playing with the art of words thoughts that ramble, compound text that leads you in different directions uses the thread that connects as the touch tool. Olah creates texture in the artwork playing on textual use of language. She connects fragments, piecing fabrics together to create a whole a unified creation replicating the quilted texture of life.
Coming to Charleston in 2003, Olah fell in love with the city. By cutting and placing an assortment of fabrics, Olah creates a soft blend that permits the contemporary nature of the paintings to tie Charleston's new world charisma to its cultural past. Works presented under glass allude to a historical context of the conservation of a sentimentally significant antique and titles often imply a personification of Charleston elements. Through a visual conversation, Olah sets up a lighthearted drama about the relationship of the community in union with natural beauty and preserved architecture. The Meandering Thread presents this in a modern context.
Artists represented by the gallery include Kevin Bruce Parent, Lolly Koon, John Moore, Beverly Derrick, Kristi Ryba, Sue Simons Wallace, Daryl Knox and Lese Corrigan as well as Karin Olah.
For further information check our SC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 843/722-9868 or at (www.corrigangallery.com).
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