Location:
Citylight Arts Project
5603 NW Radial Hwy Omaha, NE 68104
Event Description:
Join us Friday, February 4th during Benson First Friday for an exhibition and artist talk with local artist Mary Ensz for her solo show “Our Shelf Life” at the Citylight Arts Project gallery.
Opening Reception: Friday, February 4th, 6-9:00pm
Artist Talk: Friday, February 4th, 7:30pm
In “Our Shelf Life”, Mary Ensz (she/they) layers nesting doll shapes with human bodies and pairs them with 100 sight words on 35 wooden shelves. The exhibit celebrates identities that are systemically shelved, promotes suicide awareness, and commemorates those whose “shelf lives” have been cut short. Through intimate, boldly colored illustrations, Ensz honors our impermanence and resilience on pieces of furniture that were once collecting dust, but are now the art themselves.
Artist Statement:
As a visual artist, stay-at-home-parent, muralist, and co-organizer of Nasty Artist Collective, I take on various roles in my creative practice. I intuitively cultivate nests in personal and public spaces to connect with myself and others. This is represented by the shape of Russian nesting dolls, flowers, human form, and colorful abstractions. The doll shapes nest amongst each other as our human experiences and identities nest within and around our bodies.
Artist Bio:
Mary Ensz (she/they) is a Nebraska-based artist and muralist. Mary received her BFA in Studio Art from Creighton University in 2011 and is co-organizer with Nasty Artist Collective, a group of local artists seeking to use the arts to bring about social change. In the community, Mary creates vibrant murals and in her attic studio, she experiments with painting, drawing, and collaging. She layers human forms and Russian nesting doll shapes to connect with identities and truths.
Mary’s curatorial experience includes several NAC group shows and their work has been displayed in the Kaneko, RBR G, Split Gallery, OutR Spaces, Benson Art Gallery, Apollon Art Space, Petshop Gallery, Hot Shops Art Center, and Creighton University. She has created several private murals as well as being lead artist for Westgate Pool’s mural through the Cammy Watkins for City Council campaign and co-lead artist on “Mental Health is Community Health” on 24th Ave. and Farnam.