ORDER(ed)
May 5 - June 17, 2006

Opening Reception: Friday, May 5, 5 - 9 pm

Panel Discussion: Saturday, May 6, 1:30 pm
(free and open to the public)

Moderator: artist and art critic Roberta Fallon

Panelists: writer and art critic, Edith Newhal

Artists: Laurie Fendrich, Julie Gross, and W.C.
Richardson

Gallery Siano, 309 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19106
P: 215.629.2940
www.gallerysiano.com

Gallery Siano presents ORDER(ed), a group
exhibition featuring the art of seventeen established
artists from eight states and Canada. Five of the
artists are from the Philadelphia area, including InLiquid
artist member, Tremain Smith. The exhibition is curated by artist Julie Karabenick. It is accompanied by a full
color catalogue with an essay by Philadelphia art critic Roberta Fallon.

The work of each artist reflects a long-standing and
highly individual project: the creation of clearly
articulated visual worlds, microcosms sufficient unto
themselves, yet resonant with allusive possibilities.
These artworks foreground humankind’s
fundamental need to seek and impose order,
whether in domains of magic or science, nature or
technology, the secular or the sacred.

In her catalogue essay, Roberta Fallon observes, “I
suppose this could be the anti-entropy show: The
artist as warrior against the forces of inertia.”

The visual orders on view arise from each artist’s
preferred vocabulary of elementary forms. Circles
and squares, ovals and triangles and other
geometric shapes populate these works. Diverse
ordering strategies organize the elements, from the
symmetry of patterns and grids to asymmetrical
relations and hierarchies.

The artists of ORDER(ed) vary in their materials and
means. Crisp-edged, uninflected surfaces in acrylic
contrast with richly textured encaustic depths. Most
works have a unitary support, though others
incorporate multiple panels or are relief
constructions. The individuality of handling and
materials results in rich stylistic diversity, with wide
ranging moods, tempos and rhythms.

Although abstract and self-contained, the works in
this exhibition often allude to familiar orders: music
or architecture, maps or mazes, cityscapes or social
networks. As Fallon notes:

While the stream of geometric abstraction runs
deep in 20th century art, these artists are no more
making Malevich-like abstractions than they are
making Mondrian-like abstractions, although both of
those artists would be acknowledged by many as
influences. Today’s geometric abstract art comes
out of the cauldron of the times and merges our
need for personal expression with our need for a
system, a way out of the clutter, chaos and overload
that are a part of our world.

And, in the end, although order may prevail, it does
not do so unopposed. Through a host of visual
means—complexity that edges toward chaos, novel
and unexpected juxtapositions, the unruliness of
gesture and drip, or the insinuation of moods, from
humorous to melancholy—we are reminded that for
humankind, order is essential, but never sufficient.

Catalogue
A catalogue is available upon request

Gallery Information
Gallery Siano
309 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215.629.2940
Fax: 215.923.0972
www.gallerysiano.com
info@gallerysiano.com
Hours: Monday - Wednesday by appointment
Thursday - Saturday, 11 am - 6 pm