Please join us for the opening reception of local artist, Kelly Cozart’s exhibition: Nature’s Calling.
Reception with the Artist: Friday, December 6th 4-6pm Exhibition Dates: December 6-18
KAY CONTEMPORARY ART announces an exhibition of new sculptures by Kelly Cozart. “Nature’s Calling” exhibition features a group of 10 sculptures.
The artist asks the viewer to reconnect with nature and questions which is more intelligent: mother nature or human nature. Cozart acknowledges the intelligence of all things in her artful reflections. “If we are not in tune with nature, then we are out of balance. We are all inspired by what surrounds us and nature is our greatest teacher.”
Animals have always been present in Cozart’s work. They have much to teach us. One of her favorite subjects is the Corvo which includes the species of crow, raven or rook. Her sculpted bronze birds are impressionistic. “The ancient pictographs of the crow were often featured with a hook. So you can see the play on ancient/modern in the work titled Crowbar Crow. We have not evolved as much as we have deceived ourselves into believing we have evolved. We use the term Bird- Brain as being a shallow person, not recognizing the intelligence of these sophisticated creatures.” Kelly Cozart reinterprets the idea of this term in her newest sculpture featuring a bronze sculpted bird examining a book with a monocle. “I like to make the viewer laugh and wonder.”
Throughout the artist’s practice Cozart has focused on the nature of things. Fascinated by readymade modern relics, these newest works reference the passage of time and plays with ideas past, present and future. “These sculptures describe an ancient future, all is happening at the same time. I play with ancient text and language. Our modern technology has not gone as far as we think. Our communication techniques, like emojis are not unlike the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. The clay tablets that were written upon in the ancient past is similar in size to our modern day cell phones and tablets.”
Cozart exercises her wit and brings a puny / camp sensibility to the work, which unfolds against the technological, ecological dystopia. A place where humans, animals, machines and nature join forces.
“I like the humor of things, that’s what makes creating fun for me, that’s what drives me to create. Sometimes I think of a title and then make the work of art. Sometimes it evolves as I create, it makes me laugh and that’s when I know I’m on the right track.”
