Exhibition
Micro-Monuments II: Underground

Sun, 10/28/2018
IA&A at Hillyer

Presented by IA&A at Hillyer in partnership with the Washington Sculptors Group.
 
Micro-Monuments II: Underground brings together 15 local and 8 German artists to focus a contemporary lens on concepts that humanity has grappled with for centuries. Reflecting on the ring sanctuary of Pömmelte, often referred to as the German ‘Stonehenge,’ the exhibiting artists investigate deep time and explore the idea of what is hidden below ground, as well as what will be rediscovered, unearthed, and revealed.

This exhibition aims to reveal a deeper understanding of people’s lives in history, and to allow contemporary artists to express their interpretations of the cosmos, nature, current culture, and world heritage. Referencing the Nebra Sky Disc — an artifact found near Pömmelte that depicts a Bronze Age creator’s vision of the cosmos — all of the selected artworks are no larger than the Disc’s diameter of 12.6 inches. This artifact invites the artists to contemplate enduring questions about our history and place in the world. Can reflecting upon the past help broaden our understanding of ourselves and our relationships to one another? Can rethinking how we study and understand the past give us insight into navigating the future? The diverse group of artists examines these questions, bringing global perspectives to shared human experiences.

The theme for this exhibition came from the vision of curator Artemis Herber, who, with the assistance of her German counterpart, Dr. Ines Janet Engelmann, invited the eight German artists to take part in this trans-Atlantic project. A call for entries was organized by the Washington Sculptors Group for the selection of the Washington-area artists, with independent curator Laura Roulet serving as the juror.

Featured Artists: Ursula Achternkamp, Alan Binstock, Janet Brome, Marc Fromm, Judith Goodman, Caroline Hatfield, Linda Hesh, Simon Horn, Margit Jäschke, Michael Krenz, Esther Eunjin Lee, Jacqueline Maggi, Georg Mann, Joan Mayfield, Nina Viktoria Naussed, Sara Parent-Ramos, Alim Pasht-Han, Kristina Penhoet, Judith Pratt, Diane Szczepaniak, Marilyn and Gil Ugiansky, Steve Wanna, and Janet Wittenberg.

Curated by Artemis Herber, with Dr. Ines Janet Engelmann
Washington Sculptors Group Juror: Laura Roulet
 
This exhibition is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Goethe-Institut Washington, Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies, and the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.