West Bloomfield's Janice Charach Gallery is currently the scene of 'Beyond Topography', a group exhibition that challenges visitors' perceptions of the American landscape. Curated by Detroit artist Clinton Snider, the exhibition features art from 23 local creators, who reimagine landscapes beyond their physical aspects.
The show, as detailed by WXYZ, is housed in a 5,000-square-foot space known for its modern designs and a lofty skylight. According to Snider, the goal is not to just depict landscapes but to "blur the threshold of past and future, reality and imagination, and human and sorrow". 'Beyond Topography' will be on display until February 21, at the gallery located inside The J Detroit.
One standout piece includes Denise Fanning's 'A Soft Place to Land (Rest in Peace)', an installation of animal remains positioned on braided seagrass, prompting reflection on life and decay. Fanning divulged to Metro Times, "I was thinking about the complicated and varying expectations surrounding what it means to be a 'good' mother or what it means to just be a 'good' human".
On the second floor, visitors can find Fanning's 'The Good Mother Cloak', a stitched-together cascade of cords, twigs, and nests. Each artwork in the exhibition aims to provide a unique narrative. Sculptor Scott Hocking's talismanic installations have roots in his residency at the now-defunct Lee Paper Mill, as informed by Kim Fay's Substack. His use of line, shape, and shadow with found objects offers commentary on time's effect on materials.
The gallery also hosts a mix of paintings and sculptures that provide a vivid, yet poignant depiction of urban desolation and natural sanctity. As Snider said, "Many of these vistas are unpopulated, giving one the sensation of being first on the scene to witness a subtle drama about to unfold or, perhaps, the last to arrive just after something has occurred." This exhibition aims to foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the environment through the scope of visual arts, per Metro Times.
