Art

Momenta, a solo exhibition from multi-media artist Lauren Kasmer, is one of the rare online exhibitions that allows viewers to almost feel its textural, tactile elements. Curated by Susanna Meiers, and presented by El Camino College Art Gallery, the exhibition has been extended through May 9^th.

The show offers five segments, and perhaps the most absorbing was the video exhibition, Mount.

Mount tells a visual rather than narrative story, as layered as chiffon on silk, and just as graceful. Addressing a hard subject – a fire that destroyed a great deal of Kasmer’s home and art work, as well as the wildfires throughout California, it is poignant, prescient, and poetic.

But each of the exhibitions is lovely: Wardrobe consists of garments printed with photographic images; these are wearable fine art works and upcycled rugs and hangings. Delicate abstract nature imagery created by the artist create the patterns. Having produced wearable art to accompany installations for over ten years, in this exhibition, Kasmer successfully repurposed some of them, as remnants in sitting rugs.

Equipose offers an interactive installation experience. This section was planning initially for public, in-person viewing, but instead here it is viewed photographically; a meditative space with fine art ritual objects.

How is it interactive? Through an Activation section that suggests what viewers can create themselves as a space for contemplation.

There are also two additional photographic sections, Collaboration at a Distance, and Flourish from Fire, featuring stills from 2019’s Blind Courier exhibition at Brand Library.

Collaboration at a Distance integrates work made by Kasmer and ten female friends via Zoom, Skype, and email during the pandemic. Through photography, they both wore and displayed ten years of Kasmer’s printed clothing.

Flourish from Fire, relates to Kasmer’s devasting home fire experience, and is sourced from that as well as the original arrangement exhibited at the Brand.

Kasmer wants viewers to “tap into the universality as well as respect for the veiled personal history that we each possess. Because of the viewing style, they can relate to the exhibition as a whole or as individual parts.” And about those parts – “While the separate parts of the exhibit might appear unrelated, there is a constant thread of transformation that is expressed in each. I would hope that they can relate the images and film experience to their own lives. I would also hope that they might also tune in viewing a live streaming from one portion of the show that will occur April 30 – May 2.”

While some of the work in the show is new, and specifically related to today’s world, others rework previously exhibited elements, which relates saliently to the layering Kasmer uess in her artistic process. Kasmer feels that each component of Momenta works independently, but notes that. “Each part is likely to be integrated into another project in the future, so there is also a hint of what is to come.” She adds that “There are constants that relate to each other on a physical level but also embed universal themes of generative and restorative powers…Much of the imagery on the wardrobes are sourced from my photograph of the powerful force of fire, and many contain indigenous flora and fauna, both on a microscopic and macroscopic level.”

Mount’s tactile, sensual quality is entirely unique, and the visual poetry is ably abetted by a composed soundtrack. Kasmer describes the work as “both a poetic and abstract interpretation of the regenerative and restorative power that is nature. Imagery was shot in a variety of locales such as environments affected by the Woolsey and Thomas Fires, fires that impacted extended communities throughout California coastline and beyond, as well as the fires that affected me personally. Aspects were also shot in native gardens that were not affected.” Mount is available in three versions, two of which are designed to accommodate viewers with hearing or vision challenges.  

As an online exhibition, a first for Kasmer without a physical gallery presence, the artist worked to “reorient myself to the fact that there would not be an in-person experience nor event where interaction with the works is a key part to the experience…I had to reframe and embrace technology knowing that this presentation would only be virtual. This induced new challenge actually spawned creative opportunity and expanded influences.”

As an artist, despite the wide array of alternative processes which she works in, she primarily considers herself a fine art photographer, she relates, with work that segued into live action in film and video and installations as well as events. “My history as the daughter of a clothing designer made its way into the work early when I began an action called the Clothing Exchanges. Those were a series of public participatory artworks, where people traded or bartered for clothing others donated anonymously to the exchanges.” This idea transformed over time with Kasmer using “transferred imagery that was manipulated and edited to create patterns and designs that maintained an affinity with their origins – even if not recognizable.” In other words, the beautifully mysterious patterns on present garments. 

The exhibition’s planned live streaming event at the end of April will feature COVID-safe individuals and couples performing within the unoccupied apartment bedroom that houses the Equipoise installation.

At that time, Kasmer will also unveil a new book based on the exhibition. Already available is a limited-edition Viewmaster which she says is “intended to evoke the feeling of being in the presence of the elements via the use of an art object that you can hold in your hands,  a contrast to this virtual exhibition.”

After Momenta, Kasmer will embark on other exhibitions, New York City museum space, and with the curation of an exhibition for the Angels Gate Cultural Center.

In the meantime, don’t miss Momenta or its live-streamed event.

Live Stream: April 30-May 2^nd.

Exhibition viewable at https://www.laurenkasmersmomenta.com/

• Genie Davis; photos provided courtesy of Lauren Kasmer