Installations

Joan Belmar

Installations

During the last few years, I have been working with translucent materials to create pieces that react to light and adapt to the space. I enjoy how the pieces are perceived differently depending upon how they are exposed to light and depending upon the angle from which they are viewed.

Separately, I have been wanting to explore how an object’s individual qualities change when it becomes part of a group, transforming it into something very different .

I create organic installation that seeks to exploit the particular properties of frosted cups,plastic, Mylar or fabric. I'm drawn to their capacity to both absorb and redirect light. And I hope a massive grouping of them will give us different insights into their construction and qualities.

Joan Belmar describes his art as being deeply influenced by Washington, DC and the experience of living in a city with free museums and vibrant galleries. Trance-Lucid #1V, Al Fin Del Mundo, At the End of the World reflects a sense both of place and of displacement. The under painting draws associations to maps, but the translucent plastic cups affixed with map tacks create a sense of distance, displacing the viewer from fully engaging with the image beneath.

Photo Jun 18, 6 12 08 PM — Joan Belmar, Trance-Lucid #1V, Al Fin Del Mundo, At the End of the World

Transnational art is a two way street. These artists have not only been shaped by the experience of immigration and by the Washington region, but they have also contributed to the Washington art world. Through this exhibition we celebrate the unique and diverse contributions of these artists to Washington and explore their manifestations of identity and place.

Without Boundary

at School 33 Art Center is a group exhibition featuring Kyle Bauer, Joan Belmar, Ben Boothby, Ruth Hiller, Andrea Joki, Alison Stigora and Jay Walker. The exhibition is on display in the Main Gallery from Friday, March 21 through Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Curated by Christine Pfister, director and founder of Pentimenti Gallery in Philadelphia, PA, the works included in “Without Boundary” maintain a relationship between abstract and figurative aesthetics. Each of the seven artists depict elaborate craftsmanship by creating innovative works from unconventional materials including, but not limited to, duct tape, cardboard and glass. “Without Boundary” sparks critical dialogue concerning the categories of contemporary art practice and challenges audiences to rethink the limitations of such categories.

Joan Belmar