Experiences in the Urban Environment Inspire New Art Exhibition Presented with InLiquid at Drexel

“Who Broke the World?” (2003) by sculptor Brent Crothers utilizes wood, copper and nails in a response to the attacks of September 11, 2001

A wood and copper sculpture that explores an emotional response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Drawings on mylar that translate walks through Manhattan into map-inspired shapes. A floor-to-ceiling installation of inked wood and wax that engages visitors with the question of how people move through space. These works and more make up a new exhibition at Drexel University that takes visitors on a visual journey through experiences in urban environments.

Entitled "Spatial Translations," the new exhibition is a collaboration between Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and Philadelphia nonprofit artist network InLiquid. The show features drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations by Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York-based artists Annette Cords, William Cromar, Brent Crothers and Paul Fabozzi.

"Spatial Translations" will be on display in the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery (3401 Filbert St.) from Monday, July 29 – Wednesday, Sept. 18. An opening reception will take place Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

According to the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery Manager and Exhibition Curator Amber Lauletta, the approach of the artists is similar to the way the Impressionists interpreted their emotional responses to landscapes. “Each artist is questioning what has happened between organic and mechanized landscapes,” said Lauletta. “They are not offering any answers. Instead, they’re evoking our curiosity about what could be.”

In developing the collaborative exhibition, Lauletta approached InLiquid Executive Director and Artist Rachel Zimmerman because of the organization’s status as the go-to spot for upcoming and established artists in the Philadelphia region. “The Pearlstein Gallery has recently been expanded, so we’re continuing to deepen our connections with the Philadelphia art scene,” said Lauletta. “We saw this as a great opportunity for collaboration between both organizations. Through their network, we were able to find artists that pulled together a unifying theme.”

William Cromar installation

Visitors to this exhibit will have an opportunity to test a new visitor engagement tool via their smartphone, which will provide insights from the artists as a means to enhance the exhibition experience. This pilot project is being led by Drexel's Arts Administration program.

New York-based artist Annette Cords’ highly conceptual work involves layering textures and patterns to create a visual vernacular about the ways systems organize individual parts into a whole and generate structure. The German-born artist studied fine art and English literature at Principia College, and received her Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently works from her studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where she investigates the nature of systems, both man-made and organic.

 William Cromar is an artist and educator based in Philadelphia. He hybridizes his experiences with architecture, music, animation and artmaking into a unique body of sculptural and installation art.  In the past 20 years, he has exhibited his work nationwide, freelanced as a successful architectural modeling consultant and taught and lectured at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently coordinates the Penn State Abington College Art Program, where he also teaches new media.

Maryland-based sculptor Brent Crothers frequently makes use of commonly found objects and materials, such as garden hoses, tree trunks and wire, to create his tactile and experiential works. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as well as a Master of Fine Arts from MICA’s Rinehart School of Sculpture. His work is included in many permanent collections including those at the Corcoran Museum of Art, the Hechinger Collection and the Delaware Art Museum.

Annette Cords mosaic

Paul Fabozzi’s paintings and drawings are visual translations of his experiences of specific buildings and locations in a number of international cities including New York, Rome and Istanbul. His paintings and works on paper have been included in numerous solo and group shows throughout the United States and Europe, including exhibitions in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Rome, London and Vienna. Fabozzi received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

InLiquid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities and exposure for visual artists while serving as a free, online public hub for arts information in the Philadelphia area. By providing the public with immediate access to view the portfolios and credentials of over 280 artists and designers via the internet; through meaningful partnerships with other cultural organizations; through community-based activities and exhibitions; and through an extensive online body of timely art information, InLiquid brings to light the richness of our region’s art activity, broadens audiences, and heightens appreciation for all forms of visual culture.For more information, visit www.inliquid.org.