Aaron Pexa “The Spoils of Annwn”

UrbanGlass

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UrbanGlass presents a solo exhibition of new work by Aaron Pexa titled “The Spoils of Annwn”. The exhibition, curated by Samantha De Tillio, Assistant Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), is Aaron Pexa: The Spoils of Annwn will present, for the first time, an multi-media installation inspired by “Preiddeu Annwn,” an epic poem found in the Book of Taliesen, one of the most famous Middle Welsh manuscripts. “Preiddeu Annwn,” which translates to “The Spoils of Annwn” is a cryptic telling of a tragic overseas journey made by King Arthur and his knights to an expert interweaving of influences and references, as well as a dedication to storytelling as a craft that speaks to the expanding field of glass as a rich artistic medium used in the service of contemporary art.

Annwn—the Otherworld—a world of otherworldly delights inhabited by the faerie folk. Throughout this poem, Annwn is referred to by several names, including the Glass Fortress.1 The island with the Glass Fortress also has links to the legendary Isle of Avalon, the island of Glastonbury, in the United Kingdom, and the search for the Holy Grail.

Since 2013, Aaron Pexa has been making multimedia works that are informed by his previous career in architecture and urban planning. His work manifests curiosity and a sense of bewilderment through video, optics, and appropriated antique objects. Pexa’s surrealist, glass sets combined with spoken word and original scores reframe everyday objects into fantastical narratives and opportunities for storytelling. The poetic materiality of his videos overflows into his curiosity-inspiring installations, which explore the process of creation, and the symbiotic relationship between glass and light.

Aaron’s past videos, including Land of Ruby (2013), Journey to the Center of the Earth (2014),
and Parlor Trick (2014) can be viewed through the lens of experimental theater and the history
of performing objects. The influence of folklore and mythology, Parlor Trick (2013), evolved into
the research-based material culture investigations of his most recent project The Lucent Parlor
(2015), and finally into the integration of literature in Aaron Pexa: The Spoils of Annwn. His use
of glass processes—rather than object-focused work—to create richly narrative installations
and videos is indicative of the expanding field of glass, and craft in general.

“As a curator, I’m committed to being an advocate for artists—particularly those whose work falls outside of the mainstream—collaborating with them to facilitate the manifestation of new projects. I was drawn to Aaron’s use of glass-based processes to create narrative video works, as well as the integration of original scores and spoken word performance, which exemplify the expanding field of glass in the world of contemporary art. When I learned of his current body of work, inspired by the legends of Annwn, I knew I wanted to work with him on an exhibition of this project and UrbanGlass felt like the perfect place for us to do so.”

In this exhibition, Pexa uses video, neon, light sculptures, and illustration to materialize the fantastical beasts that inhabit Annwn. Transformed into an otherworld, the gallery will tell the story of Arthur’s journey through a contemporary lens. The Old English term “werifesteria,” which means to wander longingly through the forest in search of mystery is theme central to this work, as is Pexa’s consistent goal to incite wonder and bewilderment within his audience. The exhibition will include a selection of never-before seen works including the video View of Annwn (2016), neon sculpture Hound of Annwn (2016), silkscreened textiles Beasts of Annwn (2016), Island of Glass (2016), and Nine Maidens (2016), a selection of Beasts of Annwn Feastware (2016), and the Cauldron of the Chief of Annwn (2016). The installation and accompanying materials will include contributions by performer-vocalist-dancer Maralie and poet Joanna C. Valente.

Based in Providence, RI, Pexa (b. 1976) received his Masters of Fine Art in Glass from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2014, and has a dual Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Washington University in Saint Louis, as well as a Bachelors in Studio Art from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. Prior to RISD, Pexa worked as an architect and urban designer in London and New Orleans. He has won numerous awards including a RISD travel grant to research glassmaking techniques along Finland’s Glass Trail, a Chinese Government Scholarship to study Mandarin at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou and promote cross-cultural exchange, and a fellowship at the Creative Glass Center of America at Wheaton Arts in Millville, New Jersey. His most recent project, The Lucent Parlor, was created during this residency. Additional notable projects by Pexa include Back Door @ The Pendleton, Parlor Trick, and Land of Ruby. The artist is represented by Cade Tompkins Projects.

About the curator: Samantha De Tillio is a Brooklyn-based curator and writer. She is currently Assistant Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), where she specializes in post-war and contemporary craft. Her recent exhibitions include Crochet Coral Reef: TOXIC SEAS, Sarah Zapata @ Marimekko, and Eye for Design,, and her upcoming exhibition Judith Leiber: Crafting a New York Story opens April 4, 2017; she was a panelist at the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU in February 2017. De Tillio has a Master of Arts in the History of Decorative Arts from the Smithsonian Associates with George Mason University, Washington, DC, a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University at Albany with minors in Ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations, and Spanish. De Tillio is also a regular contributor to GLASS: The UrbanGlass Quarterly.