Exhibits & Events

Box Spring Gallery presents Meeting New Circles in partnership with CFEVA (Center for Emerging Visual Artists) and in anticipation of their annual Art Party, happening on May 29. This month, Box Spring Gallery celebrates geometry in art and the colorful abstract works of three CFEVA artists: Paula Cahill, Andrew Chalfen and Duwenavue Santé Johnson.

Striving for excellence is like drawing a circle. Aside from the mathematical definition (a plane figure where every point on a line is equidistant from the center point), a circle is described as intrinsically divine. It represents unity, wholeness, infinity and perpetual motion. There is no variation of the shape except size. It is found in nature (iris of the eye, rainbow, center of a flower, the moon), man-made concepts (the wheel, compass, mandalas, wedding band), and the spiritual (community, life cycles, halos, God). A circle embodies so much inherent power as the simplest of things. It’s no wonder humans have a natural affinity and attraction to circles. It’s as close to divine perfection as we get.

But what about in relation to other circles and their applications? These three artists demonstrate the playfulness of circles, especially as abstract expression; overlapping, intersecting, bouncing like balls, and as negative space. One way Chalfen describes his work is as a “non-representational way of depicting how we relate to the world and to one another.” Likewise, Cahill says “My work is interactive, inviting the viewer to track a mix of meticulous circles and meandering, color-changing lines.” She continues to examine the “complex physical properties and philosophical underpinnings” that the circles posess. All the artists describe their work as a meditative practice. And Johnson describes “the shapeshifting nature when chaos presents itself, migrations and journeys are sure to follow, leading to circular beauty and joy” reflecting on her own artistic journey.

‍