Mary Gillis: Metalscapes

K. OSS CONTEMPORARY ART

MARY GILLIS METALSCAPES MAY - JUNE 2018

Born in Michigan, keen to become an artist, Mary Gillis traveled to Venice, Italy in her early 20's to study art and art history with New York University at the Centro Internazionale delle Arti, Palazzo Grassi. Mary holds a BFA degree from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY and a MA from NewYork University. She was a Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome in 2016.

Gillis’ style has evolved from large pastel drawings, collages and prints to paintings and large-scale sculptures to mixed media, work on aluminum and even recycled guardrail.

Through the whole of her remarkable career nature, especially water, has had a great impact on her work. The “Venice Drawings,” “Great Lakes Series,” and “Fountain Collages” reflect her passion for the rhythms and dynamism of moving water.

In her new show at K.OSS Contemporary Art, Mary Gillis: Metalscapes, I am delighted to introduce you to a series of her abstract geometric pieces that Gillis created using thermoset polymer on aluminum, acrylic paint on acrylic glass, stainless steel and guardrails. This unusual mixture of mediums creates a world both totally new and reflective of the past. These startling effects she creates by using acrylic on clay- coated hardboard as well as thermoset polymer on recycled guardrail.

The works clearly convey the influence of the early modern art movement, De Stijl – an abstract, pared-down aesthetic with basic visual elements such as geometric forms and primary colors –but Gillis adds to them a contemporary sensibility. Her combination of reflective surfaces and thoughtful order brings the viewer a new sense of form and reflected space.

I will also be showing a work that will definitely be a surprise for you, a work created by patterns of rectangles made of recycled guardrails ordered into a grid. It reflects many of the innovations and themes of the other works of this exhibition. As you study the details of this remarkable piece, its patterns keep every- thing in motion and as your eye moves around its varied visual world, along the black bands of its structure, into the bright primary colors and whites that frame its ordered edges, it creates its own thoughtful energies.

Simple and powerful, confidently modern, these works took Gillis many years of experimentation and hard work before she was ready to create them.

Kristina Oss Director, K.OSS Contemporary Art

My work historically shows a balance of movement versus stasis, usually gestures anchored by simple geometry. Here, color plays a bigger part in the movement.

Using tools from our fast-paced culture as a means of respite from that culture I’ve created this series of works; positive, happy and playful; seemingly simple.

Recycled highway guardrail comes at us with obvious reference to its past. Now, fertile with symbolism as presented out of context. I love the 3-dimensional, tactile nature of these robust elements bursting off the wall. What of illusion?

As the ancient Romans plundered other lands they brought home the spoils of war. This “spolia” as it is called, became part of Roman culture – an obelisk from Egypt on top of a sculpture of an elephant by Bernini stands in the Piazza della Minerva, and so on.

Averted Disaster is my “spolia.” Animated with gesture from paper torn and tossed, anchored by color and newly found structure – this spolia lends new waves of strength; it is our rampart.

ARTIST STATEMENT 2018

AVERTED DISASTER / SPOLIA 2016 THERMOSET POLYMER, PAPER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL

103 x 103 x 4 inches

AMBIENT CULTURE #1

2013-18

THERMOSET POLYMER ON ALUMINUM, ACRYLIC ON ACRYLIC GLASS, STAINLESS STEEL

40 x 40 inches

AMBIENT CULTURE #2

2013

THERMOSET POLYMER ON ALUMINUM

40 x 40 inches

AMBIENT CULTURE #3

2013

THERMOSET POLYMER ON ALUMINUM, ACRYLIC ON ACRYLIC GLASS, STAINLESS STEEL

40 x 40 inches

AMBIENT CULTURE #4

2013

THERMOSET POLYMER ON ALUMINUM, ACRYLIC ON ACRYLIC GLASS, STAINLESS STEEL

40 x 40 inches

AMBIENT CULTURE #5

2013

THERMOSET POLYMER ON ALUMINUM

40 x 40 inches

AMBIENT CULTURE #6

2013-18

THERMOSET POLYMER ON ALUMINUM, ACRYLIC ON ACRYLIC GLASS, STAINLESS STEEL

40 x 40 inches

IMOLA RED #1

2006

POLYURETHANE ON ALUMINUM, OIL ON PAPER, ACRYLIC ON GLASS

30 x 48 inches

IMOLA RED #2

2006

POLYURETHANE ON ALUMINUM, OIL ON PAPER, ACRYLIC ON GLASS

30 x 48 inches

YOU ARE THE GUARDRAIL

2016

THERMOSET POLYMER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL, ACRYLIC ON CLAYBOARD

30 x 40 x 5 inches

SUNSET DRIVE

2016

THERMOSET POLYMER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL, ACRYLIC ON CLAYBOARD

30 x 40 x 5 inches

OFF ROAD

2016

THERMOSET POLYMER, ACRYLIC ON PAPER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL, ACRYLIC ON CLAYBOARD

30 x 40 x 5 inches

ABOUT YELLOW

2018

THERMOSET POLYMER, ACRYLIC, PAPER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL ON CLAYBOARD

12 x 12 x 5 inches

PREVAIL

2018

THERMOSET POLYMER, ACRYLIC, PAPER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL ON CLAYBOARD

12 x 12 x 5 inches

METTLESOME

2018

THERMOSET POLYMER, ACRYLIC, PAPER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL ON CLAYBOARD

12 x 12 x 5 inches

MEADOWLARK

2018

THERMOSET POLYMER, ACRYLIC, PAPER ON RECYCLED GUARDRAIL ON CLAYBOARD

12 x 12 x 5 inches

EDUCATION New York University, New York, New York. M.A. degree, 1979 Study in Venice, Italy; studio art and art history program of New York University, Palazzo Grassi, 1977-78 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York.

B.F.A. degree with honors, 1974 DISTINCTION Visiting Artist, American Academy in Rome, 2016 AWARDS Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant for Painting, 1985 National Scholastic Art Scholarship, Pratt Institute, 1970 SCULPTURE COMMISSIONS Longest Stream, 2002, polished stainless steel, 14’H x 6’W x 5’D Commissioned by the City of Grandville, Michigan.

Business district, exterior.

Kalamazoo, 2002, etched painted glass, granite, water jets, fiber optic lights, 153”H x 132” W x 132”D Radisson Plaza Hotel, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lobby installation.

World Map, 2001, powder-coated steel, 16’H x 28’W Central Wesleyan Church, Holland, Michigan. Grand Hall installation.

Vessel of Life, 1999, painted steel, 120” x 48” x 48" Women & Children’s Center; Pathfinder Resources, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Exterior installation.

Ascent to Victory, 1998, painted steel, 126” x 60” x 48" RDV Sportsplex (practice facility, etc., for Orlando Magic NBA basketball team, WNBA team and Solar Bears hockey team) Orlando, Florida.

Main entrance hallway installation.

Flow Chart I, Flow Chart II, 1997, painted aluminum wall sculptures, 32” x 96" ea. Baan, Inc., Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Lobby installation.

Sculpture Garden IV, 1996, painted steel, 66” x 27” x 24" McDermott Will & Emery, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY. Lobby installation.

EXHIBITIONS 2018

K.OSS Contemporary Art, Detroit, Michigan Metalscapes

2016-18

Mary Gillis Studio + Gallery, Lansing, Michigan Paintings, Sculpture, Prints, Drawings, Mixed Media

2016

Wheaton’s Gallery, Mason, Michigan Paintings, Sculpture, Mixed Media

2013-14

Maurer Gallery, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico American in Cabo Series, Paintings on aluminum

2014

The Runway, Lansing, Michigan Paintings, Mixed Media

2013

Mary Gillis Studio + Gallery, Mason, Michigan Paintings, Sculpture, Prints, Drawings, Mixed Media

2012

Greater Lansing Housing Coalition, Lansing, Michigan Painting, Sculpture, Prints

2011

Mary Gillis Studio + Gallery, Williamston, Michigan Paintings, Sculpture, Prints, Drawings, Mixed Media

2009

DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan ArtPrize, Great Lakes Series, paintings on aluminum

2007, 06

Cameron Scott Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Paintings and Sculpture

2006

Cameron Scott Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Rolls Royce and Bentley, a Celebration of Art and Auto

2004

District Arts Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Mary Gillis and Ellen Firestone

2002

Gensler, New York, New York Paintings on Aluminum, Monotypes

2001

Burnaby Gallery, Hamilton, Bermuda New Works Featuring Mary Gillis & Paul Doughty Paintings on Aluminum and Monotypes

2000

Hill Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Particular Vision; Mary Gillis, Carol Hepper, Heather McGill, Michael Flomen, Dennis Oppenheim, Katy Schimert, G. Goldberg, Donald Lipski

1998

Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan Regional; Invitational

1997

Posner Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Gallery Artists; January 1997

1997

Yeary von Tol Designers, Grand Rapids, Michigan Paintings, Drawings and Sculptures

1996

Frederik MeÄłer Gardens, Grand Rapids, Michigan Dinosaur Sculptures

1996

Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon Michigan Tornado Watch!; Invitational

1996

Frederik MeÄłer Gardens, Grand Rapids, Michigan Prehistoric Plants and Other Critters; dinosaur sculptures

1996

Van Andel Museum Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan Yikes!!! They're Back; dinosaur sculptures

1996

Posner Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Sculptures and works on paper

1996

University of Michigan-Dearborn, Mardigian Library, Dearborn, Michigan Selected Works; Mary Gillis, Karen Klein, Jennifer Reeves

1995

Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan Regional 68

1995

Alexa Lee Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan Sculptures and Paintings

1995

The Edge Gallery, Pontiac, Michigan The Vitrier Series

1995

E III Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan Paintings, Sculptures, Mixed Media

1994

Alexa Lee Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan Sculptures and Paintings

1994, 95, 96 Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois Sculptures and Paintings

1994

University of Michigan-Dearborn, Mardigian Library, Dearborn, Michigan Contemporary American Works of Art on Paper; Mary Gillis, Ida Applebroog, Jennifer Bartlett, VÄła Celmins, Leslie Dill, Jim Dine, Jasper Johns, Alex Katz, Robert Stackhouse, Frank Stella, William Wegman

1993

Cilla Scott Design, Royal Oak, Michigan Selected Works

1992, 93

R.H. Love Contemporary, Chicago, Illinois Gallery Artists, 3-Dimensional Collage

1991, 92

Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan Gallery Artists, 3-Dimensional Collage

1988, 89

Shea & Beker Gallery, New York, New York Invitational, Works on Paper; Mary Gillis, Sol Lewitt, John Walker, etc.

1988

Germans van Eck Gallery, New York, New York Gallery Artists; Mary Gillis, Bard Breivik, Broto, Chris Costan, Heide Fasnacht, Jan Hafstrom, Michael Hardesty, Susan Laufer, Donald Lipski, Clinton Storm

1988

Germans van Eck Gallery, New York, New York Paintings

1988

Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, Illinois German van Eck Gallery Artists, Paintings and Drawings

1981

Semaphore Gallery, New York, New York Gallery Artists, Paintings

1979

O.K. Harris Works of Art, New York, New York Invitational; Mary Gillis, Audry Hirsch, Bruce Brooks, Robert MacBride, James Beatman, Norman Colp, Christian DeBoschnek, Marjorie Orlando, Gerald Wolfe, Kunie Sugiura

1978

Palazzo Grassi, Venice, Italy New York University Painting, Drawing and Sculpture Exhibition

1977

Palazzo Grassi, Venice, Italy New York University Painting, Drawing and Sculpture Exhibition

1978

Segno Gra co, Venice, Italy Lithographs

1975

2719 Gallery, Dallas, Texas Mary Gillis and Gary Barnett, Paintings

1973

Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, Texas North Texas Painting and Sculpture Exhibition

1973

Pratt Manhattan Center, New York, New York Paintings

SELECT CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Accident Fund National Headquarters, Michigan Baan International, Inc., Illinois Bank of America, Michigan Central Wesleyan Church, Michigan City of Grandville, Michigan DaimlerChrysler, Michigan Davis Polk and Wardwell, New York D. P. Fox Ventures, Michigan Dykema Gossett, Michigan Genesys Medsports Complex, Michigan Grand Valley State University, Michigan Jackson National Life Insurance Company, Okemos, Michigan Lansing Board of Water and Light, Lansing, Michigan McCabe & Co., New York McDermott Will & Emery, New York Pathfinder Resources, Michigan Power Process Piping, Inc., Michigan Raymond Terry & Assoc., Sussex, England RDV Sportsplex, Florida Technimetrics, New York Triangle Productions, Michigan X-Rite, Inc., Michigan Young & Rubicam Detroit, Michigan

SELECT REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS Erickson, Anne: “Art is ‘Intellectual, Sensual’, Artist Profile, Greater Lansing Woman Magazine, March 2011, p. 46, illustrated.

Martin, Ken: “D’art Next Door, A look at local mixed-media artists,” cover photo of Mary Gillis and feature article, Signature Magazine, December 2006/January 2007, p. 32, 33, cover, illustrated.

Breithaupt, Christy: “The Art of Politics,” feature article, Hour Detroit Magazine, November 2006, p. 41, 42, illustrated.

Swoyer, Megan: “wherefore art,” feature article, Style Magazine, p. 22, July/August, 2006, illustrated.

Essenburg, Keith: “City Council approves sculpture,” Community News, The Grand Rapids Press, June 27, 2002, illustrated.

Holder, Robin; “Modern Minimalism at Burnaby Show,” review, Bermuda Sun, November 23, 2001, illustrated.

Holder, Robin; “Eclectic new show at Burnaby Gallery,” review, Bermuda Sun, p. 37, October 16, 2001, illustrated.

“On the Arts Scene,” review, The Royal Gazette, Bermuda, Lifestyle section, October 18, 2001, illustrated.

Roach Quarterly, Pam; “Mary Gillis,” feature article, Preview Bermuda Magazine, Arts & Culture, p. 29, October 2001, illustrated.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Interpretive Art, New sculpture at Women and Children’s Center takes on various forms," feature article, The Grand Rapids Press, May 27, 1999, illustrated.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Sportsplex blends athletics, medicine, art," feature article, The Grand Rapids Press, Sunday Entertainment section, July 19, 1998, illustrated.

Yee, Roger; "Legal Restraint," article about the design of the law offices of McDermott, Will & Emery, New York, featuring photograph of sculpture by Mary Gillis, Contract Design Magazine, May 1998.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Regional exhibit provides bold exposure," review of 70th annual West Michigan Art Competition at the Muskegon Museum of Art, The Grand Rapids Press, Local A&E section, June 23, 1998 Provenzano, Frank; "Posner Gallery offers works that comfort us," review of group show/gallery artists, Detroit Free Press, Sunday Entertainment section, December 22, 1996.

Colborn, Marge; "Tree Options," review of metal table-top trees, The Detroit News, Homestyle, Welcome Mat section, November 30, 1996, illustrated.

Chargot, Patricia; "You can really dig dinos at these gardens," review of Prehistoric Plants and Other Critters exhibition at the Frederik MeÄłer Gardens, Detroit Free Press, YAK!, July 1, 1996.

Hamilton, Terry Finch; "Monster Veggies," review of Prehistoric Plants and Other Critters exhibition at the Frederik MeÄłer Gardens, The Grand Rapids Press, front page and Flair section, June 27, 1996, illustrated.

Chesley, C.L.; "Selected Works: Mary Gillis, Karen Klein, Jennifer Reeves," exhibition catalogue, University of Michigan-Dearborn Mardigian Library, February 1996, illustrated.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Design studio presents rooms with a view," feature article, The Grand Rapids Press, Flair Weekend section, October 20, 1995, illustrated.

Cantu, John Carlos; "At Alexa Lee, art that rewards a 2nd glance," review, The Ann Arbor News, Sunday entertainment section, August 13, 1995, illustrated.

Convissor, Kate; "Mary Gillis," article, Grand Rapids Magazine, Preview, p. 48, August 1995, illustrated.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Parade home is gallery for works by area artist; Contemporary paintings are successfully integrated into traditional interior," feature article, The Grand Rapids Press, entertainment section, May 29, 1995, illustrated.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Looks can be deceiving," review, The Grand Rapids Press, Sunday entertainment section, January 29, 1995, illustrated.

DeVries, Cherilyn; "Local artist's work communicates in many ways," article, East Grand Rapids Cadence, Advance Newspapers, entertainment section, January 11, 1995, illustrated.

Krissoff, Sylvia; "Abstractionist opens EIII studio and gallery," feature article, The Grand Rapids Press, entertainment section, December 29, 1994, illustrated.

Cantu, John Carlos; "New York artist's show 'a purist's delight'," review, The Ann Arbor News, November 27, 1994, illustrated.

Bolling, G. Fredric; "Mary Gillis, New Paintings and Sculptures," exhibition catalogue, Alexa Lee Gallery, November 1994, illustrated.

Bolling, G. Fredric; "Contemporary American Works of Art on Paper," exhibition catalogue, University of Michigan-Dearborn Mardigian Library, November 1994, illustrated.

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marygillis.com

K.OSS CONTEMPORARY ART 1410Gratiot Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207

Friday Saturday

11 am - 5:30 pm 11 am - 4 pm

Weekdays by appointment t: 248-599.2232 info@kossgallery.com

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