As a curator, one of my objectives is to assemble my exhibitions with exceptional artwork. What qualifies as exceptional is clearly subjective; for me it’s art that is not only appealing to the eye, it initiates conversation, evokes visceral reactions and imprints onto a viewers mind. Much of the work I select is based on the concept of the piece as much as the execution.
Gail Folwell is a prolific and well regarded sculptor based in Boulder, Colorado. I chose her work as today’s addition because her sculpture is exemplifies my definition of exceptional. She has created an impeccably executed 3D representation of a universally relatable sentiment. According to Gail, CAN YOU HEAR ME is one in a series of psychological narratives on the concept of the world being simultaneously more connected, yet disconnecting, than ever before.
The concept is something most people have thought about on some level. My own examination of Gail’s idea leads me to scrutinize social norms of interaction and communication, though that has recently changed dramatically. Pre Corona, I had underlying distain for how technology changed communication in my own lifetime. Emails replaced handwritten notes, face-timing replaced in person visits and text messages replaced phone calls; I felt a loss of intimacy. Post outbreak, I am more thankful than ever for living in a digitally dependent world. Facetime, texts, Zoom, email and social media has allowed us all to remain safe at home, communicate with loved ones and check on friends.
Two figures on either end of a wooden line balancing delicately atop of tiny steel rod represents the fragility of our social balances. However, I feel one the most important, but perhaps overlooked element of this piece is the large wooden block below. It depicts the foundation, the solid and beautiful block is what we can always rebuild upon if we lose our balance.