Unearthing

Etsuko Ichikawa
Sean Johnson
Tuan Nguyen
Sara Osebold
Mary Simpson

June 2 – 30, 2005
Art Walk / Thursday, June 2nd, 6–9:30pm
Reception / Saturday, June 4, 7–10pm

SOIL artists' collective presents the work of its five newest members: Etsuko Ichikawa, Sean Johnson, Tuan Nguyen, Sara Osebold, and Mary Simpson in an exhibition of installation, sculpture, painting and works on paper.

Hailing from different backgrounds and locales, these artists come together to continue and enrich SOIL's core mission of providing an independent, alternative, not-for-profit, artist-run gallery.

SOIL is pleased to present such a diverse body of work from five wide-ranging artists intensely focused on their vision.

Etsuko Ichikawa features new works on her favorite themes of fairy tales and psychology. She works with mixed media on her two and three-dimensional works of art, which include large-scale installations. Her works were recently acquired for Portable Works by 4Culture, and up-coming exhibitions include Raw & Refined at Bumbershoot. Born in Tokyo, she received her BFA from Tokyo Zokei University.

Sean Michael Johnson is a second-year MFA candidate in the Metals department at the University of Washington's School of Art. He received his BFA in Jewelry and Printmaking from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Working primarily in mixed media sculpture, typically with metal and wood, Sean's interest is in the investigation of the juncture that exists between stasis and motion. His constructed objects address formal qualities of art–making, but often appear to follow little–to–no visual logic — the works are precarious, idiosyncratic and confounding. Sean has exhibited his work locally and is proud to be a new member of SOIL.

Tuan Nguyen deals with all manner of images. He layers, imbeds, and compresses his images and materials conceptually as well as physically, fusing disparate spaces and times—within the work as well as elements outside of it. Tuan Nguyen was born in Vietnam and received his BFA from the University of Florida and MFA from the University of Washington.

Sara Osebold received her MFA in sculpture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and a BFA in printmaking from University of Washington. In 2004, she collaborated with Jose Bold on his project Universal Translator for the Northwest New Works Festival at On the Boards. She is thrilled to be a part of the SOIL forces, loves to play in the snow and can't stop collecting rocks.

Mary Simpson is a visual artist currently living in Seattle. Recent projects include Hello Central, Give Me Heaven, Hello Central, Give Me No Man's Land, a multimedia installation at the Tacoma Tollbooth Gallery, and Release & Capture, Paperworks, at the Kirkland Arts Center. Upcoming projects include an exhibition of paper and film works at Soil Gallery in September, and a solo show at Gallery 4Culture in 2006.