Metaphoric Vinyl October 11, 2007

Metaphoric Vinyl
10 Artists use the Roland Camm-1 Servo Sign Making Cutter

(Philadelphia) Ten invited artists have been asked to produce work using a Roland Camm-1 Servo, a machine commonly used in the sign making industry. Though the participants have certain things in common as contemporary artists and printmakers, the only specific thing they share is that they have all utilized this versatile industrial instrument to produce beautiful and imaginative new artwork and explore its possibilities and limitations. Metaphoric Vinyl opens Thursday, October 11 and runs through Friday, November 2.
Under the careful guidance of master vinyl maker & NEXUS executive director, Nick Cassway, they have all tried various methods and cross uses for the equipment and material while reconsidering the notion of digital versus analog process. Because the method of production is specified, the theme then becomes one of collaboration and shared process within a certain range of commercial print technology. After scanning an initial idea, designs are vectorized (turned into discrete linework) and then manipulated via Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. They are then cut by “Roland” into a vast array of vinyl films and heat transfer materials. The results vary to the whims of each individual artist, but the work all plays with exploration of the possibilities of a newly accessible medium.
Some of the artists were chosen because they have had significant design experience and the rest have an experimental approach to all media with a specific focus on printmaking. The gallery then becomes the site for exploration, intervention and installation. Nick Cassway's brush and ink drawn portraiture is transferred into large-scale images documenting his cohorts in different situations as they blow him a kiss or flip him the bird. Chris Vecchio has re-engineered vinyl to make it conductive for electricity. Candy Depew's work astounds with her decorative bent, a perfect match for this process. Peter Duffin's exploration of cryptic graphic language and wood patterned vinyl film make an extreme visual dichotomy. Sam Larson experiments with language and a 3-dimensional application of cut vinyl and Alyse Bernstein extends her printmaking vocabulary into new realms using heat transferred flocking. Matt Brownlee's tattoo influenced designs are reworked for applications with the material and process while Matthew Pruden does a new take with anamorphic imagery. Nic Coviello continues his exploration of botanicals through a highly charged graphic application and James Rosenthal may have taken the theme literally by forfeiting some of his record collection and writing with plastic on plastic.

Metaphoric Vinyl
Thursday October 11 through Friday November 2, 2007
Opening Reception – Thursday October 11, 6 to 9 PM
New performance series paraphrase/nexus – Wednesday, October 24, 8 PM
The Gallery's regular hours are 12 to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Admission is free.

Official Website: http://www.nexusphiladelphia.org