(Photo: Courtesy photo)

In science, catalytics speed up a chemical reaction while undergoing no permanent change. This month, at the Arts Mid-Hudson gallery, two local curators — Emilie Houssart and Xuewu Zheng — are launching a series of artistic dialogues through group art exhibitions.

Houssart explained that this is facilitated “by getting artists together so that we might ‘collide’ with each other in interesting ways.”

Altogether, eight artists are exhibiting work that could be wildly diverse without this premise. For instance, in Jinkook Hwang’s “Sushi Nam Yeo” series, rice is seen as the center for happiness and love, stemming from his cultural background. In “Couple Sushi,” the artist draws a man and woman resting on a bed of rice that has been magnified to signify its importance in his life.

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Hayoon Jay Lee also creates work responding to food, which can be seen in many of her performance pieces and artworks.

"Joe Weber," one of the larger-than-life portraits by Joe Radoccia on view in "Catalytics." (Photo: Courtesy photo)

“I try to communicate the tension points surrounding personal conflicts and social inequities," Hayoon said. "However, a central core and a function in my work is an active collaboration by artists to inform and support underserved communities.” Hayoon exhibits “Silent Witness I,” where viewers can consider the artist’s rendition of a beautiful rounded spoon, filled to the brim with rice, and contemplate the idea of what is enough.

Houssart and Zheng both use their artistic practice to make sense of contemporary culture. With Zheng’s practice of rolling and tying newspapers, the work reflects his fascination with history and the idea that we create a new history as we live our lives. His installation “Century Text,” placed in the center of the gallery, features thousands of pages rolled and tied, reminding us that history is made up of thousands of tiny details from each day.

Houssart’s work, “Spaces,” responds to the different perceptions of value in society. Similar to Zheng, Houssart has a darkly humorous approach to contemporary culture, adding it all into the mix and allowing everything to exist side by side in a vaguely chaotic presentation.

Organic shaped wood-fired "Vessels" by Leigh Williams are included in the exhibit. (Photo: Courtesy photo)

Marieken Cochius exhibits her recent ink and shellac drawings on paper. The artist may be influenced by the natural world: her abstraction of color and bold line stands out as a direct emotional response that is articulated with paper and inks. While Cochius presents ethereal line and shading, Leigh Williams exhibits “Vessels,” two forms that can be viewed as positive and negative space. The hand-built wood-fired clay has delicate colorations that defy their dark, organic shapes.

Sumi Pak's "Getting to Know You," one of the daily portraits of his cat that reference human emotions in "Catalytics." (Photo: Courtesy photo)

 

Joe Radoccia’s larger-than-life portraits show a dignity and gravitas in each face. Each portrait features underpainting in the background that adds to the depth and nuance of each face. Radoccia places the soul of each person on display, using scale and the direct gaze. Sumi Pak examines human emotions of happiness, sadness, fear and curiosity through his daily portraits of his cat, Kopi. Pak’s gestural line and colorations describe the ordinary life of his cat, and perhaps our own lives as we go about our daily business.

Linda Marston-Reid is the president of Arts Mid-Hudson. The column appears every other week in Enjoy! Contact her at 845-454-3222 or lmr@artsmidhudson.org

If you go

An opening reception for "Catalytics" will be held 5-7 p.m., March 10 at Arts Mid-Hudson gallery: 696 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie (west of Adams Fairacre Farms on Route 44). The exhibit runs through April 23. Regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Art Brunch: 1-3 p.m.,  April 23; exhibiting artists will discuss their work in an informal setting during a light brunch. All events are free. Visit http://www.artsmidhudson.org/; call 845-454-3222