Achroma/For Good Measure - New Work by Steve Juras and Todd Siegel

November 30th to December 5th (by appointment only)
Opening Reception: November 30th 6-11pm

Fulton Street Collective
2000 W. Fulton St., 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60612

Fulton Street Collective is pleased to present For Good Measure and Achroma, a joint exhibition of new work by Todd Siegel and Steve Juras. Please join us for the opening reception on Friday November 30, from 6-11 p.m.

Steve Juras' work explores the perception and value of art objects. The work not only demands focused attention but also calls for self-questioning of established ideas. In this way, the work constitutes an artistic practice for both artist and viewer, a disciplined and sustained exercise in contemplation, investigation, and the process and materials of painting. The exercise begins with a formal restriction: eliminate color. This limitation focuses attention on fundamental elements of art making: composition, contrast, texture and pattern. Unpredictably, the removal of color not only highlights formal qualities, but begins an exploration into the basic material aspects of a painting (wood support, canvas ground, wire hangers, etc.)  Simply put, Achroma is an assemblage of objects employing conventional and experimental methods of construction. Viewed more broadly, the work is a visual field within which to explore some of the most basic questions we face: What are we looking for here?  What is being said? Must anything be said? Of what value is this exercise?

Todd Siegel presents a series of artworks that question the concept of measurement in school systems and systems of thinking. His artwork is about and relates to education, teaching, and learning. Through his work he questions the system of measurement that is being promoted in America by creating artwork that disputes the logic that has led to the intense standardized testing, unhealthy teaching situations and standardized teaching methods. His drawings, collages, and video installations do this by creating an absurd logic, one that questions what we perceive as normal modes of measurement or thinking. He includes in his work carefully drawn mice and other animals to represent the students or ourselves as test subjects inside mazes created with testing materials. Some of his work displays emotional marks to represent messes and mistakes that usually are not accepted in schools, and collages of illogical situations that question the type of teaching promoted in schools.

For more information: stevejuras.com 773.844.0210 or www.toddsiegelart.com 773.983.0401.