As a connoisseur of art and design, I must say that James Cherry’s latest lighting installation, FROM POLLEN, at Alex Tieghi-Walker’s TIWA Gallery, is nothing short of breathtaking. The fusion of urban and rural influences in his work, as well as the personal narrative woven into each piece, adds a layer of depth that I find truly captivating.
This past autumn, I stumbled upon James Cherry’s new lighting installation, FROM POLLEN, at Alex Tieghi-Walker’s TIWA Gallery in the heart of Tribeca, NYC. This was no ordinary gallery; it felt like a cozy home, showcasing handmade crafts from up-and-coming artisans and designers, just like Cherry’s unique lighting creations. It was a perfect fit!
A distinct honey glow radiates from the otherworldly shapes, handcrafted by Cherry using a mixture of found, foraged, and fabricated materials between his New York studio and a historic Californian art commune. The 25 pieces are imbued with the contrasting environments of his Brooklyn workspace and his residency at Salmon Creek Farm, a queer arts program in Mendocino, California.
Cherry elaborated on the inspiration behind Salmon Creek Arts, explaining “One of our main objectives is to establish an environment where individuals who identify as queer can retreat, collaborate, and express themselves without societal constraints.” He went on to say, “The pieces I produced for FROM POLLEN stemmed from that experience—standing amidst a vibrant garden, observing bees pollinate. For a short while, it seemed as if my life was overflowing with the same richness because of this unique paradise I had become a part of.
Even though Cherry was working outside his NY studio, he still created designs that resembled skyscrapers and towers. He explained, “I’ve been contemplating ways to incorporate a feeling of warmth and lightness into structured, architectural forms, blending organic elements with structure.
To highlight the stark difference, Cherry collected branches from different coastal regions: the California wilderness and Central Park in New York City. In this manner, his multifaceted inspiration simultaneously shapes both the structure and essence of his work, deeply connected to a feeling of belonging to a specific location.
The lamps are predominantly crafted using a material that Cherry refers to as “Improvised Fiberglass” – a blend of recycled paper and cloth reinforced with a resin coating. He envelops this transparent fabric around frames constructed from twigs, wires, and salvaged items he finds.
The final result is alive in its visual character, with amorphous skeletal structures protruding from the illuminated textiles, almost as if they are about to break through. The gentle light is subdued, emanating only a minimal radius, like a spirit dwelling inside the lamp’s body.
The exhibit titled FROM POLLEN is now open for viewing and will continue to be so until January 18. Visitors can drop by on Wednesdays and Thursdays by appointment, while on Fridays through Saturdays, the hours are from noon to 5 pm. The location of this exhibit is TIWA Select, which is situated at 86 Walker Street, on the 5th floor.
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2024-12-14 20:56