Offertorium
Matthew Fischer
Curated by JAG Projects
Oct 23rd - Nov. 14th
In Offertorium, Matthew Fischer presents a series of hammered aluminum wall works surrounding a tabletop array of stained glass sculptures. The aluminum sentinels surround the glass-liths like a ritual projecting light on them, imbuing them with life. The wall works are made by starting with found objects, such as birdhouses, cradles, and tool boxes which then have aluminum sheets pounded and compressed around their forms. The glass works mimic this activity as they absorb and combine refractions of light mixing colors inside their cores. Made with Bullseye glass, copper foil and lead solder, these upright forms are reminiscent of neolithic standing stones and other divination forms.
Much of these works include “coin-slots” as if to take, ingest and accept offerings. These works have a clear reference to a religious connotation where Fischer plays with the in-between as a devotional object and calling capitalism into question. The money slot offers a clear symbol of what is sacred. These works literally make a demand and they can accept a devotion. Fischer positions his work as rooted in painting, which focuses on lightsource and color. The stained glass works continue to mix combinations for him as the viewer moves around, like a never ending color study. - Jesse Greenburg
