SEPTEMBER 9 - OCTOBER 28, 2023

Artists, Evan Boggess and Sarah Jacobs conjure memories and question the meaning of life through their surreal paintings layered with objects of symbolism and personal experience.

The paintings in Evan Boggess’ Roil Ring series are compressed assemblages of imagery associated with specific personal experiences. He considers his painting surfaces to be collection sites for the troves of documentation he gathers about inexplicably strong memories. Candid snapshots, satellite images, graffiti, advertisements and signage, written documents, plants, wildlife, graphs, local lore, weather reports, doorbell cam stills, and trail camera photos are just some of the sources Boggess uses to expand the memories into hulking, cacophonic forms. The visual elements intersect, interrupt, support, and obliterate one another while remaining parts of the same writhing masses. By placing everything in circular, centrifuge-like compositions, the visual elements are forced to relate to one another in various contexts. The relatively slow, mindful act of painting allows Boggess to watch these unexpected connections develop among elements in real time. As he searches for the ideal forms and styles with which to describe his research, the details of his memories become simultaneously sharper and more nebulous.

Sarah Jacob’s Mystery Series, which consists of multimedia paintings, creates space for conversations around existential concerns. What are consciousness and the meaning of life, and what happens after we die? Many pieces incorporate symbols related to living and dying: in one scene, an emergency medical helicopter lands in the background; another depicts a house of cards; in a third it is unclear whether a chess piece will be taken out or survive another turn. These works also incorporate deep spaces, including outer space. The cosmos is the ultimate representation of existence. We are part of this space and world that we cannot fully define. The artworks are rendered with great care and detail to inspire viewers to feel wonder at being part of something so grand and unknowable. Jacobs’ artworks show the oneness of humans with the rest of our world at a time when that relationship is vulnerable, edging on irreconcilable.

Request Catalog