GROAN HALL: APF LAB
Press Release
Art Production Fund is pleased to present Groan Hall, a new artwork by Christopher Astley.
Christopher Astley is a sculptor who constructs (or collects and alters) bags and containers to use as molds for making sculptures. He fills them with wet concrete, which stresses the seams and the shape of the containers. Gravity, mass and moisture reshape the original mold. What emerges is a new iteration of the form, imperfect, misshapen and often verging on figural.
Astley’s newest sculpture “Groan Hall” is a 13 foot long wall made of 40 plus of these painted forms stacked on top, leaning against, squished between, and oozing over each other. Each of the individual cast elements that he creates add to the particular vernacular of the overall form—the stacked wall takes shape as holes and spaces are filled with painted forms that are on hand or with new bags that are sewn quickly before concrete dries. The process is a kind of triage where decisions are made urgently to fill immediate needs. Bags burst and need to be sewn by hand with large sewing needles forcing there way through cement-saturated material. Wet heavy bags are gingerly leaned and stacked—vulnerable until they cure. The wall’s overall needs supersede preconceived aesthetic considerations—design is drowned in a flood of necessity. Everything is up for grabs—favorite forms are sacrificed to a more ham-fisted whole. The element of chance is welcomed; the working process is a matter of adventure and discovery.
Christopher Astley was born and grew up in East Lansing, Michigan and received his BGS degree from The University of Michigan. He lives in New York City with his wife Amy and daughters Edie and Ingrid. Astley’s work has been included in exhibitions at: Bravin Lee Programs, New York City; Salomon Contemporary, East Hampton, New York; Michael Stienberg Fine Arts, New York, New York; Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts, New York City; Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida; Fisher Gallery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; H&R Block Artspace at Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri; Contemporary Art Museum, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Astley’s Sculpture “Geronimo” will be exhibited at The Margulies Collection in Miami, Florida beginning November 10, 2010.
Art Production Fund is a non profit organization dedicated to producing ambitious projects by contemporary artists, reaching new audiences and expanding public participation and understanding of contemporary art. Past Projects include: SHOW, Vanessa Beecroft, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1998; PLAN B, Rudolf Stingel summer 2004, Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall and The Walker Art Center; Prada Marfa, Elmgreen & Dragset, Valentine, TX, 2005, permanent; Greeting Card, Aaron Young, Park Avenue Armory, 2007; Electric Fountain, Noble & Webster, Rockefeller Plaza, 2008; The Whitney Biennial, Park Avenue Armory, 2008; Members Only, Kalup Linzy, 2008; Scribble, Karl Haendel, 2009; Kalup Linzy, Kembra Pfahler, Haim Steinbach, Proenza Schouler for Pitti W, Florence, Italy 2009. Co-Founders: Yvonne Force Villareal and Doreen Remen. Director: Casey Fremont.
Soho Mews Developed by United American Land and designed by renowned architects Gwathmey Siegel & Associates, Soho Mews comprises two condo buildings; one with an entrance on West Broadway and the second which fronts Wooster Street. They are connected by a 4,000 sq.-ft. garden designed by the award-winning Peter Walker & Partners Landscape Architecture, which was recently honored with the winning design for the World Trade Center Memorial, among other accolades. The property features 59 lofts, 5 spacious townhouses and 4 wrap-around penthouses, all with 10-foot ceilings. The building’s ample amenities include concierge service provided by Luxury Attaché, in-building art information advisory service by Art Production Fund, special shopping privileges, updates and other perks from Fort Street Studio and Moss, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center and 24-hour doorman and porter service.
Special thanks to Soho Mews for generously donating the space to Art Production Fund. For more information please contact Casey Fremont: casey@artproductionfund.org or 212 966 0193
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