SHINY MONSTERS: An Installation by Adam Wallacavage

May 17—August 19, 2012
Public Opening Reception:
Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 6pm

PHILADELPHIA ART ALLIANCE
251 South 18th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel: 215-545-4302
www.philartalliance.org

Philadelphia Art Alliance presents SHINY MONSTERS: An Installation by Adam Wallacavage, the artist's first solo exhibition in his home town of Philadelphia.

Wallacavage will take inspiration from his lavishly decorated home by presenting several new chandeliers within each gallery of the space. Inspired by the Gothic interiors of now-closed Catholic churches he visited throughout Philadelphia, Adam Wallacavage channeled his fascination with chandeliers by creating Jules Verne-inspired lighting for the dining room in his Victorian brownstone.

To construct these octopus sculptures, Wallacavage taught himself the traditional techniques of ornamental plastering, which includes large-cast plaster work and hand-sculpted pieces from epoxy-clay. Those initial sculptures inspired Wallacavage to continue to experiment in form, color, and technique, developing his own unique glazes and application technique to give his pieces a unique vibrant shimmer.

Recently, Wallacavage has added his love of kitsch to his sculptures. Casts of cartoon bunnies and elephants, Hello Kitty heads, and vintage toys are incorporated into his pieces, which are then covered in bright shades such as bubble-gum pink and mint green. The resulting sculptures reflect his varied aesthetic interests, ranging from 16th Century Baroque opulence to 1940s Americana.

Wallacavage received a BFA in Photography at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His chandeliers and other sculptural works have been published and exhibited internationally. Co-founder of the artist collective Space 1026, Adam Wallacavage is also an accomplished photographer, documenting artists, musicians, and skateboarders. His first book Monster Size Monsters was released in 2006 through Gingko Press.

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