An Index of Sorts

SNAP is pleased to present An Index of Sorts, featuring new work by Rachel Livedalen. The exhibition runs from January 20 – February 17, 2024 at SNAP Gallery.

An Index of Sorts is an installation of screeprinted paper forming a grid-like design across the walls of the gallery.  Within the grid pattern are groupings of framed works on paper and printed fabric panels blending Greco-Roman art historic references with contemporary culture. 

Opening Reception: Saturday January 20, 7pm-9pm

Artist Talk (Online): Thursday, February 15 at 6PM on Zoom

Register online to receive a meeting link: Click Here to Register

An Index of Sorts is an installation of screeprinted paper forming a grid like design across the walls of the gallery.  Within the grid pattern are groupings of framed works on paper and printed fabric panels.  Many of the works reference Greco-Roman art history through the inclusion of art objects and art history textbooks pages. 

The works focus on printed material and point to the act of printing and publishing as a means of attributing value.  The reproduction of an image gives it power, as its meaning is sustained through its duplication.  I am intrigued by the symbolic role played by Greco-Roman art history in shaping Western history, beauty ideals, and patriarchal structures.  I often juxtapose references from art history with imagery influenced by contemporary “girl” culture, at times referencing cultural ephemera from my own 1990s “Girl Power” adolescence. Through this juxtaposition, meanings intertwine, erasing the tiered boundaries of cultural expression and history. The result is a non-hierarchical amalgamation of visual culture, challenging conventional perceptions.

Weaving together groupings of works on paper and fabric panels is a paper grid in the form of a daisy chain.  The daisy chain embodies a playful spirit across an otherwise academic exploration of art historic references.  These grid lines, wavering like a hand-drawn line, serve as a nod to order and structure but also challenge the idea of perfection. I examine the organizational structures commonly employed to understand complex concepts like history, art, and notions of beauty. Grids, catalogs, and book indices become integral components of this installation, mirroring the tendency of these structures to provide a semblance of order while ultimately failing to fully grasp the depth of understanding sought. 

Rachel Livedalen earned her MFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa and her BA from the University of Virginia.  Rachel is currently an Associate Professor at TCU and heads the printmaking area.  Her work has been supported by residencies at the Kala Art Institute, Virginia Creative Center for the Arts and A&H Museums-Maitland as well as by the art program of the historic Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.  Her work is held in the collections of the Mulvane Art Museum, the Bradbury Art Museum, Soho House Austin, and UT Southwestern.  Rachel is represented by Erin Cluley Gallery in Dallas, TX and Ivester Contemporary in Austin, TX.  She lives and works in Fort Worth, TX.

www.rachellivedalen.com

Image:

A Sample An Example
Archival inkjet print with etching and monoprint on gampi paper
8” x 5”
2023