Judy Child: Unbounded

JUDY CHILD

Unbounded

JUDY CHILD

Unbounded

November 10, 2023 - January 20, 2024

Bruno David Gallery

7513 Forsyth Boulevard

Saint Louis, 63105 Missouri, U.S.A. info@brunodavidgallery.com

www.brunodavidgallery.com

Director: Bruno L. David

This catalogue was published in conjunction with the exhibition

Judy Child: Unbounded

Editor: Bruno L. David

Catalog Designer: Hazel Tao

Design Assistant: Claudia R. David

Printed in USA

All works courtesy of Bruno David Gallery and Judy Child

Cover image:

ELECTRIFIED, 2023 (detail)

Acrylic, latex, and fluid medium on canvas

17 x 12.5 x 1.75 inches

(43.2 x 31.8 x 4.4 cm)

Copyright © 2024 Bruno David Gallery, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Bruno David Gallery, Inc.

CONTENTS

UNBOUNDED by

Sandra Harris

AFTERWORDS

by Bruno L. David

CHECKLIST AND IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

BIOGRAPHY

UNBOUNDED

by Sandra Harris

Judy Child challenges boundaries between painting and sculpture in her latest exhibition Unbounded. Her art has evolved from her previous showings Revelations in 2017 and Inner Mappings in 2019 to present the culmination of years of what Child describes as “looking for a way to raise paint off the canvas and bring intention to the accidental.”

The physical technique of pouring paint and sculpting folds of fabric and plastic used to create Unbounded is interwoven with psychological themes the viewer is invited to explore. What is controllable? Where do plans and chance meet? Most importantly perhaps, what does it mean to let go?

Child’s personal practice of journaling for years translates beautifully into meticulous documentation of her ideas, feelings, and process in handwritten notes. One fortunate enough to read them gains a reflective thought process to complement viewing the physical pieces. The journal pages document artistic evolution through the years:

2020: She focused on introducing chosen elements into unintentional creations, exploring the interplay between controlled and uncontrolled aspects, and adding order to disorder. The significance of lines, excavation, and the juxtaposition of manufactured versus organic elements were emphasized.

2021: Child delved into the balance between near and far perspectives, the creation of form rather than just texture or pattern, and the tension between unplanned and deliberate actions. She also explored the tactile qualities of paint, the concept of ‘thingness’, and the transformation of paintings into sculptures.

2023: The concepts of topography and multiple contingencies were prominent, as was the merging of abstraction and representation, illusion, and three-dimensional form. She refined the use of poured and placed materials to create complex surfaces resembling draped fabric and folded paper while maintaining an essence of paintings.

Child writes that she is “always searching for what she wants to see” and other artists’ work often helps her focus in on what she seeks. She was particularly inspired by the retrospective exhibition of works by British sculptor Rachel Whiteread at St. Louis Art Museum in 2019. It showcased Whiteread’s innovative use of materials like resin and plaster in reverse castings of negative spaces that explore and transform our ideas about the nature of often overlooked objects and elements of architecture. However, Child moves beyond recognizable elements and provides a more abstract environment which allows for even more interpretation by the viewer.

Kathy Butterly, American ceramicist/sculptor, is also referenced in Child’s evolution process. In a 2020 interview with NAD Now, Butterly states that “with a painting, your mind goes into each piece, whereas with sculpture or ceramics, it’s about the body. You see a physical object that inhabits the real world. I’m interested in the intersection of mind and body—in making something ‘real’ while also taking your mind on a journey.” Child finds a unique way to eliminate the need to choose between painting and sculpting to deeply integrate mental and physical realms in her dimensional approach.

The artworks in Unbounded developed after Child tested unconventional materials coupled with personal reference points, reminiscent of how Leslie Wayne, American sculptor, described her process for her 2018-2019 What’s Inside series. Wayne wrote: “For me, the impetus of change comes usually from something unanticipated – an encounter with another work of art, a technical “mistake” in the studio, a word or passage in a book, or a deeply personal event – rather than from a deliberate blueprint for a specific outcome.” Child embraces the element of tension in her creative process between pouring and then stepping away to let the paint dry without knowing the eventual outcome.

Reference to artist Tauba Auerbach, particularly her Fold Series from 2010-2012 is also present in Unbounded. Auerbach used abstract painting methods to create what appeared to be folds in canvas as what she called “a model for working towards a deeper, more complete, more intuitive experience of being in the world” (Israel, 2017). Child takes the process one step further by

replacing the illusion of dimension with unique hand-casted forms that take shape off the canvas.

The methods Judy Child used in this latest set of works involved meticulous experimentation, a balance between intention and accident, and a dedication to exploring new possibilities beyond conventional norms. Throughout the process of venturing into unfamiliar territory she calls “both exhilarating and anxiety producing,” she asks herself if she should try to define structure, allow the materials to do so, or try to pre-determine the outcome with a set shape. Ultimately she pushes herself and the viewer to look in new ways and to embrace the indefinite in art and in life. While planning and determination can provide structure in our work and in our minds, inevitably factors beyond our control will influence outcomes and lead to revelation that knows no bounds.

Sandra Harris has had a unique career as an arts administrator and consultant in a variety of settings around the US. Beginning July 2024, she will serve as Executive Director of the Kennedy Museum of Art and Head of Museum Studies at Ohio University. She previously served as Executive Director of the membership organization American Women Artists, and Deputy Director of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at UC Berkeley and The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. This text is one in a series of the gallery’s exhibitions written by fellow gallery artists and friends.

References

Artist notes and interview, 2023.

Carnwath, Squeak. (March 30, 2020). Kathy Butterly’s universe in color. NAD NOW: The Journal of The National Academy of Design. https://www.nadnowjournal.org/in-conversation/kathy-butterlys-universe-in-color/ Israel, Matthew. (March 24, 2017). These 10 artworks tell the story of contemporary art. Artsy. https://www. artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-artworks-story-contemporary-art Saint Louis Art Museum. (2019). Rachel Whiteread. https://www.slam.org/exhibitions/rachel-whiteread/ Wayne, Leslie. (n.d.) What’s Inside. https://lesliewaynestudio.com/works/paintings/whatsinside/

AFTERWORDS

by Bruno L. David

I am pleased to present Unbounded, an exhibition of new work by Judy Child. This is Child’s third solo exhibition at Bruno David Gallery.

In her new work, Judy Child continues to explore the use of poured paint to shape unique casted forms on canvas. By merging her study of textiles with poured-paint techniques, she brings to life surfaces that embody the interplay of shadows formed by draped fabric and folded paper. Her carefully developed processes, refined over three years, allow each piece to slowly reveal itself, requiring weeks of drying.

Traditionally, paintings are defined as two-dimensional works—pigments meticulously applied to canvas and displayed on a wall. However, in this body of work, Child transcends these conventional boundaries, venturing beyond the confines of the wall and navigating the adjacent space. In tackling the concept of relief, she invites us to contemplate the convergence of painting and sculpture: Where are the boundaries? How have they historically been defined? What new aesthetic gestures can be created in-between? While the answers to these questions might not be obvious, some of the possibilities can be found in the works of Unbounded.

Judy Child works and lives in St. Louis and has shown her work locally, regionally and nationally. She received her B.S. from Colby Sawyer College and attended Boston University Program in Artisanry. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Individual artist grant.

Support for the creation of significant new works of art has been the core to the mission and program of the Bruno David Gallery since its founding in 2005. I am deeply grateful to Hazel Tao, who gave much time, talent, and expertise to the production of this catalogue. Invaluable gallery staff support for the exhibition was provided by Jenny Rong, Hazel Tao, Kenya Mitchell, and Kalli Brown.

CHECKLIST & IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

ELECTRIFIED (detail)

2021

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas

16.50 x 12.25 x 1.5 inches

(41.91 x 31.12 x 3.81 cm)

DILEMMA

Arcylic,

Arcylic and latex on canvas

21 x 17.75 x 1.5 inches

(53.34 x 45.09 x 3.81 cm)

LINEN 2023

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas 16.25 x 12.25 x 1.5 inches

(41.28 x 31.12 x 3.81 cm)

FATE (detail)

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas

16.50 x 12.25 x 1.5 inches

(41.91 x 31.12 x 3.81 cm)

GREENERY 2022-23

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas 20.50 x 16.5 x 1.5 inches (52.07 x 41.91 x 3.81 cm)

2021

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas

16.50 x 20.50 x 1.5 inches

(41.91 x 52.07 x 3.81 cm)

THREADS

RETRIEVAL (detail)

COUNTERPOINT 2023

Arcylic and latex on canvas 17.75 x 20.75 x 1.5 inches

(45.09 x 52.71 x 3.81 cm)

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas

16.25 x 20.25 x 1.5 inches

(41.28 x 52.71 x 3.81 cm)

20.25 x 16.25 x 1.5 inches

(51.44 x 41.28 x 3.81cm)

Arcylic and latex on canvas

CONFIDENTIAL (detail)

RESPLENDENT

2023

Arcylic, latex, and Fluid medium on canvas

16.25x 12.25 x 1.5 inches

(41.28 x 31.12 x 3.81 cm)

Judy Child: Unbounded (Installation view)

JUDY CHILD

Lives and works in Saint Louis, Missouri

EDUCATION

1978-80 Program in Artisanry, Boston University, Boston, MA

1976 Auckland Society of Arts, Auckland, New Zealand

1971 B.S., Colby Sawyer College, New London, NH

ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2023 Unbounded, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (catalogue)

2019 Inner Mappings, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (catalogue)

2017 Revelations, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (catalogue)

2002 New Work, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1999 Spatial Patterns, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1998 New Paintings, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1997 New Paintings, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1996 Paintings: Pattern, Texture & Color, Marian Graves Mugar Art Gallery, Colby Sawyer College, New London, NH

1995 Recent Work, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art. St. Louis, MO

New Paintings, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1993 New Paintings, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1992 New Work, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1990 New Work, MJF Studio Arts Gallery, St. Louis, MO

1989 New Work, Mossa Center, St. Louis, MO

1987 Recent Work, Louis D. Beaumont Gallery, Maryville University, St. Louis, MO

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 Conflict Resolution, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Black light, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2022 Among Friends, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2021 Bilingual: Abstract & Figurative, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (Catalogue)

2020

2019

2018

2017

OVERVIEW_2020, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

OVERVIEW_2019, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

OVERVIEW_2018, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

OVERVIEW_2017, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2008 Grand Center Artists, PSTL Window Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2007 Art for a Lifetime, Drive Agency, St. Louis, MO

2005 Collectors Choice, St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis, MO

2004 Size Matters, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

2001 ART, St. Louis Repertory Theater, St. Louis, MO

2000 Summer Exhibition, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1997 St. Louis: The City Series, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA

1996 Group Exhibition, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1995 Absolutely Abstract, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1994 New Pier Show, Art Chicago 1994, Chicago, IL

10th Anniversary Group Show, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

Abstraction, Morton J. May Gallery, Maryville University, St. Louis, MO

1992 Art St. Louis VIII, The Exhibition, St. Louis, MO

1991 The Last Picture Show, Elliot Smith Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Small Worlds, Elliot Smith Gallery, St. Louis, MO

1990 Artists Choose Artists, St. Louis Center, St. Louis, MO

1989 Art St. Louis V, St. Louis Artists Coalition, St. Louis, MO

1st Annual St. Louis Artists Juried Exhibition: Spotlight on Drawing”,” St. Louis Gallery of Contemporary Art, St. Louis, MO

1988 Art St. Louis IV,” St. Louis Artists Coalition, St. Louis, MO

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Harris, Sandra Bruno David Gallery Publications, “Unbounded”, Essay, May 2024

Outlaw, Adrienne Bruno David Gallery Publications, “Drawing from Life”, Essay, September 2019

Marks, Kerry “Judy Child,” HEC-TV, Interview, April 15, 2019

Schwartz, Tim Bruno David Gallery Publications, Interview, December 2017

Marks, Kerry “Bruno David’s New Exhibition Explores Politics, Movement, and Mindscapes,” HEC-TV, May 2017

Cooper, Ivy “Judy Child: New Work,” The Riverfront Times, December 2002.

Schroeder, Ivy “Judy Child: Spatial Patterns,” The Riverfront Times, May 1999.

Smith, Brian “Judy Child: Spatial Patterns,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, May 1999.

Daniel, Jeff “Abstract Artist Makes Her Evolutionary Move,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, July 1998.

Melrod, George “Openings,” Art and Antiques, November 1995.

Bellos, Alexandra “Symbol Pleasures,” The Riverfront Times, March 1995.

Riley Parr, Debra “Similarities Belie Artists’ Diverse Paths,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 1995.

Smith, Brian “A Visit to the Studio of Judy Child,” Close-Up: Art St. Louis Magazine, Summer, 1994.

Ferring S., Carol “In Review,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, November 1993.

Ferring S., Carol “Honor Award Winners are a Diverse Lot,” Honor Awards, St. Louis Post Dispatch, February 1993.

Duffy, Robert W. “Work of Three Artists are a Study in Contrast,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, February 1992.

Harris, Paul A. “Ordinary Subjects Mask Wealth of Abstraction,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 1991.

Sauer, Georgia “The Creative Touch,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1990.

Schmitendorf, Karen “Child’s Works Display Visual Vocabulary,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 1990.

AWARDS & HONORS

1998 Juror/Curator, Honors 1998, Art. St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

1996 Fellowship Recipient in painting, National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Arts Alliance

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Landmark Bancshares, IL

Peat, Marwick, Main and Co., Indianapolis, IN

Centerco Properties, St. Louis, MO

Davis & Davis, St. Louis, MO

Ingersol Publications, St. Louis, MO

Midland Group, St. Louis MO

Emerson Electric, St. Louis, MO

Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO

BlueCross BlueShield, St. Louis, MO

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ARTISTS

Antonio Ainscough

Sara Ghazi Asadollahi

Barry Anderson

Laura Beard

Heather Bennett

Lisa K. Blatt

Michael Byron

Ben Brough

Quinn A. Briceno

Bunny Burson

Lisa Bulawsky

Judy Child

Carmon Colangelo

William Conger

Alex Couwenberg

Terry James Conrad

Jill Downen

Damon Freed

Yvette Drury Dubinsky

Douglass Freed

Adrian Gonzalez

Richard Hull

Mee Jey

Kelley Johnson

Chris Kahler

Leslie Laskey

Justin Henry Miller

James Austin Murray

William Morris

Arny Nadler

Yvonne Osei

Patricia Olynyk

Charles P. Reay

Daniel Raedeke

Tom Reed

Frank Schwaiger

Eric Minh Swenson

Char Schwall

Christina Shmigel

Thomas Sleet

Buzz Spector

Andrea Stanilav

Cindy Tower

Mario Trejo