Archimedes Gallery presents “Overgrown” with Eva Funderburgh & Josh Keyes.

“Return” by Josh Keyes

Opening June 25th, Archimedes Gallery will be showing 25 new wood fired ceramic & cast bronze sculptures by Eva Funderburgh and 6 new paintings by Josh Keyes. Special events include, two different Josh Keyes limited edition print releases offered in-house only, starting at 10 am Saturday, June 25th along with Josh and Eva doing an artist demonstration from 2pm – 4pm followed by an artists’ reception from 5pm – 8pm. For more detailed information visit www.archimedesgallery.com

“Return” by Josh Keyes

Josh Keyes new series of paintings embody the theme of natural entropy, regrowth, and restoration. The imagery in these paintings illustrates a post-human world, an environment “Overgrown” and reclaimed by nature. At first glance, the imagery calls to mind the contemporary fixation and anxiety surrounding the ever-growing impact the human presence has in relation to environmental change. The cause or event leading to the absence of humans is left to the viewer’s imagination; Josh’s focus is on the remaining landscape. He chose this theme specifically for Archimedes Gallery and its location in Cannon Beach, Oregon. The rolling and breathing ocean has a healing element, a washing away and wearing down. For Josh, the ocean is a place of renewal, of physical change and psychological transformation, and this vision of regrowth and regeneration is at the core of his new imagery. Exploring the metaphors of organic restoration, and expressing the need for inner cultivation and healing, the historical past and our own personal past are ever present, but there is possibility to change, heal, and grow.“Return II” by Josh Keyes

“The Visitor” by Josh Keyes

Eva Funderburgh’s new sculptures includes bear-like beasts shackled to swirling water, growing harbinger candles on their backs, or carrying entire civilizations.  She works with a variety of materials including ceramic, bronze, and porcelain, with a focus on unique patinas for each piece.  “My work deals with the overlap of humanity and the natural world.  I use my simple, emotive animal forms to examine human motives and emotions. Storytelling and the idea of myth plays a very large role in my work, but equally so the notion of biology,”  she says.  “Humans are intrinsically biological and the growth of cities follows the same biological imperative as a blooming flower or growing tumor. I try to examine this notion without pronouncing a moral judgment on it. Hence, my beasts may sometime carry entire civilizations on their back, though the question of symbiote or parasite is left open. I also use biology in my work to examine some of the more base aspects of human nature as my creations hunt, eat, and squabble over prizes. ”

This article was underwritten by Archimedes Gallery.