BRATTLEBORO — Artist Roberley Bell will take part in a conversation about her work at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m.
Bell and BMAC Director of Exhibitions Sarah Freeman will discuss the relationship between Bell's drawings and sculptures and her interest in the distinct physical and emotive qualities of each.
"As a sculptor working with the language of abstraction, I am continuously in search of form. I refer to this process as 'finding form'-inventing form where it did not previously exist," said Bell in a news release. "I work with wood, plaster, ceramic, found and altered parts, exploring both the combination of materials and each material's inherent properties. I try to reveal the essence of materiality and the ability of distinct materials to elicit emotions."
"Bell's drawings help her find her way to three-dimensional forms. Bell creates organic forms that seem familiar yet resist identification," Freeman wrote in an essay accompanying the exhibition. "The sculptural works are amalgams-hybrid forms made from fabricated elements and found materials. Splashes of vivid, saturated color enhance their idiosyncrasy."
Bell's work has been exhibited internationally, including at Alan Istanbul, Medea Lab Gallery, Malmö University, Sweden; deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Massachusetts; The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; and Black & White Gallery, New York. She has had numerous residencies, including at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, the Salzburger Kunstverein, Austria; and The International Studio & Curatorial Program in Brooklyn.
Bell lives in western Massachusetts and maintains a studio in Easthampton.
This in-person event is presented in connection with the exhibition "Where Things Set," which is on view at BMAC through Oct. 9. Admission is free, and walk-ins are welcome. Registration is optional. To register, visit brattleboromuseum.org or call 802-257-0124, ext 101.