June 29, 2019, Saturday - SHIMMER: John Foster's First Solo Exhibition Opening Reception at Gamut Gallery

Time: 3pm - 9pm, $5

Location: Gamut Gallery, 717 S 10th Street

SHIMMER: John Foster's First Solo Exhibition Opening Reception

Gamut Gallery presents Shimmer, John Foster’s first ever solo exhibition. Foster combines color, light, space into sculptural synergy forming art objects ranging from radiant house plants and wall pieces to furniture. Fine Art and Quantum theory intersect in the process he describes as “inter-dimensional quilting.” Sculpted peaks and valleys of light represent a collaboration between strength and failure. Shimmer seeks to bridge the distance between the viewers and the objects.

Foster, will be premiering selections from his new work, the “Chromaflora Botanical” Collection, as well as the first series of hand-formed dichroic aluminum paintings that make up the “Empyrean Corrugation”. Though featuring his latest work, Foster won’t let down his long-time fans; Shimmer will include many of his classic kaleidoscopic polyhedra, the iridescent geometric aesthetic that has earned John worldwide recognition.

The end result is an experience of objects exploding in colorful motion that is dynamic and yet discrete. “You cannot cast a shadow if you let light through,” says Foster. “In spectral flux, the shadow is a projection filtering light into chromatic harmony, activating optical vibrations that produce visual/tactile synesthesia.”

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Materials geek John Foster employs various formal and situational strategies to create what can best be described as beautiful moments. Born in Los Gatos, California, John’s fascination with color and light began early, when he was diagnosed with a condition that causes severe bone pain. The limited physical mobility this resulted in inspired John to create movement and relationships with materials, combining the effects of light, color, geometry, and physics. Foster’s work evolved into creating and documenting actual objects that allow us to glimpse a glimmer of the infinite that lies beyond the future.  

In 2015, Banksy tweeted an image of the Sparkle Palace Cocktail Table, captioned “Am I the only one the thinks this is beautiful?” John has had his work published in several major periodicals, including Cosmopolitan Germany, Vogue Brazil, Juxtapoz, and Hi Fructose Magazine. His work is in private collections around the world, including the Interstellar Sparkle Table commissioned by Zedd, which was cited in Architectural Digest. In 2017, John’s sculpture, Truth Ore, was featured in the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival in the United Arab Emirates.

John works with artists to cultivate a culture of skill sharing, community building, artistic growth, and the spaces in which this occurs. He conducts participatory workshops, most recently, a weeklong project in Black Rock City in which he collected MOOP (matter out of place) and employed adaptive reuse techniques to make the Chromaflora Cyborg Botanical series. He’s currently based building a makerspace in Iowa City to host residencies and offer sanctuary for other working artists.

ARTIST TALK

Saturday, July 13th 11am - 1pm, // $5 presale, $7 door
Join us for conversation and a look into the mind of John Foster
Enjoy sparkly beverages, coffee & sweet treats

COLAB ART NIGHT

Thursday July 18th, 7pm - 10pm // $7 presale, $10 door

We welcome back Colab for it’s annual hello!
Bring your own materials or work from our communal supplies.

Work together, collaborate, or work solo.

This event will have limited capacity

EXHIBIT FINALE DANCE PERFORMANCE
Thursday August 15th, Doors 7pm // $10 presale, $13 at the door

Members of Twin Cities Dance Community will perform an interactive choreographed response to John Foster’s work, followed by Q and A. This event will have limited capacity.