The Galleries at Moore to Present "Places of Freedom and Containment" Exhibition

Curated by Charlotta Kotik, the exhibition is the third iteration of Moore’s Visiting Curators Initiative.

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Philadelphia, PA (September 26, 2022) — Moore College of Art & Design (Moore) will present its newest exhibition, Places of Freedom and Containment, in The Galleries at Moore, from October 1 to December 3, with a special opening reception on Friday, September 30 from 5–7 pm. Organized by Brooklyn-based independent curator Charlotta Kotik, the exhibition brings together the work of four female artists who explore the relationships to various locations, often places of origin, and the formal and psychological impact of such places on their creative work.

Places of Freedom and Containment is the third iteration of Moore's Visiting Curators Initiative, which highlights the artistic talents of curators from outside the Philly region and brings their vision to The Galleries at Moore, a hub for contemporary art and creative exploration in the heart of Philadelphia. For this exhibition, Kotik’s work focuses on a multicultural approach that explores how architectural and domestic spaces are conceived, modified and inhabited, based on a woman’s role as provider in various societal structures. Each artist in the show uses a unique perspective to illuminate the intricacies of urban design and its impact on society’s functionality, as well as cross-cultural gender roles and how they can be employed to create enriching environments.

"We have experienced radical societal changes in the past few decades, and it is often women artists, architects and cultural theorists who react with heightened sensitivity to altered needs," said Charlotta Kotik, visiting exhibition curator. "The artists in this exhibition have a distinct understanding of one's environment as a bearer of cultural and personal identity. By addressing issues connected with our surroundings in fresh and gendered ways, they are part of a vanguard that instigates much needed changes in our understanding of architectural planning and urban design. I am indebted to Moore College of Art & Design for allowing me to delve into these issues."

 Artists featured throughout the Places of Freedom and Containment exhibition include:

  • Sara Jimenez, a Filipinx-Canadian multidisciplinary artist who explores transcultural memories and creates work that addresses existing global narratives around concepts of origins and home, loss and absence.
  • Rehab El Sadek, an Egyptian-born artist of Sudanese ancestry who works at the intersection of conceptual art, architecture and language. Her work explores themes of identity, displacement, immigration and belonging.
  • Shervone Neckles, an interdisciplinary artist of Afro-Caribbean origin who integrates themes of identity and immigration into her work. She also explores many of the Caribbean arts and crafts traditions in her practice.
  • Kara Rooney, an American multidisciplinary artist living in Mexico City, who uses painting and weaving to document the disappearance of sections of historical neighborhoods in order to preserve collective memory and to pay “an homage to architectural spaces that house our sense of cultural and personal identity.”

"We are thrilled to welcome Charlotta Kotik and Places of Freedom and Containment to The Galleries at Moore as part of our Visiting Curators Initiative," said Cathy Young, president of Moore College of Art & Design. "Thanks to Kotik's curatorial vision and the artists she has selected, we are able to present yet another exhibition that opens the door for important cross-cultural conversation among our students and also presents a one-of-a-kind immersive art experience for everyone who walks through our doors."    

Upcoming special events for Places of Freedom and Containment include the opening reception on Friday, September 30 from 5–7 pm and a Walk and Talk event with Kotik on Thursday, October 6 at 6 pm. In addition, participating artist Rehab El Sadek will conduct an artist talk during the upcoming Adding Voices conference, hosted at Moore, on Saturday, October 1 at 3:45 pm.

The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about The Galleries at Moore please visit The Galleries’ website.

Above image: Sara Jimenez, Roots Burrow Through Stones and Hard Facts, 2021. Site specific, mixed-media installation at Smack Mellon, New York. Courtesy of the artist. 

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Dominique Pilosi, Signature 57
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