PAST PROJECT

ABOUT

Bridge Red Studios/Project Space proudly presents Materiality, featuring Susan Banks, Regina Jestrow, Kerry Phillips, Evelyn Politzer, and Judy Leeson Polstra.

Materiality addresses the tangible, experiential quality one has when encountering a work of art in a physical space, as well as the choice of materials used to create the work, what they convey, and how they are perceived.

The traditions of quilting, sewing, crochet, embroidery, knitting, and beadwork were born out of the need to make functional and utilitarian goods. In themselves, the humbleness of these materials speaks of home-spun comforts and the hand-made. Materiality explores how these five artists use these materials as a departure from the traditions they are rooted in, while revering and acknowledging their heritage.

Susan Banks

A native of South Florida primarily known for her work in ceramics, Banks began working with beads and fabric create sculptural objects with mystical connotations just before the pandemic. These highly embellished forms are dense with personal symbolism and hand-sewn objects that served as a process to shift dimensions in time during isolation.

Regina Jestrow

Regina Jestrow's artwork explores women's history and American quilt pattern traditions. Her Americana Quilt Series uses cotton fabrics, second-hand clothing, and hand-dyed muslin using pigments from plants and rust. These methods symbolize traditions and interconnectedness while accentuating human flaws.

Kerry Phillips

Kerry Phillips makes sculpture and installation using found and collected objects, relying on insight and a MacGyver-like resourcefulness. Her work challenges notions of place and consumption, constructing spaces that foster wonder and Alternate perspectives while building connections around rescued memories.

Evelyn Politzer

Originally from Uruguay, Politzer uses wool to engage with both global and local issues. She co-founded FAMA (Fiber Artists-Miami Association) with the mission to educate and advance contemporary fiber arts in Miami, and is a recipient of the 2020 Ellies Creator Award from Oolite Arts.

Judy Leeson Polstra

Judy Leeson Polstra combines found photography with hand embroidery on abandoned textiles. By cherishing and recontextualizing what was formerly marginalized as "women's work," she links herself with the artisans that came before, bringing added color to historical identities.