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May 2006

nooksandcrannies
Julie Custer, Marc Dombrosky, and Etsuko Ichikawa

May 4 – May 28, 2006

nooksandcrannies is a site-specific installation exhibit by Julie Custer, Marc Dombrosky, and Etsuko Ichikawa. They intend to make the most of their opportunities to use the given space, SOIL Gallery, to create a challenging and playful space for viewers to discover.

Each artist will take their own observations about the unique qualities of the space: cracks and holes in the floor, architectural structures, industrial elements, temporary furniture, the street scene, sound, light and shadow—every possible thing, and interpret them through their own particular installation.

They use previous work as a point of departure for inquiry: Custer uses pattern as a vehicle to explore the ideas of memory, space, and perception. Dombrosky’s studio practice expanded to include anytime that he is walking down the street, as the subjects of his works are often overlooked and underfoot. Ichikawa works with abstract ideas such as feelings, atmosphere, and impressions, and investigates the in-between state of the ephemeral and eternal.

This exhibition is curated by Ichikawa and has been developed in collaboration with Custer and Dombrosky.

Julie Custer’s site-specific installations address the faces of walls, floors and ceilings. Using a restricted color palette, she creates subtle alterations to the environment which quietly unfold before the viewer. Custer received her MFA in fiber at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2003. She has exhibited her work at the Kirkland Arts Center in Kirkland, WA, the Farm Contemporary Arts Center in Kansas City, MO, and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygen, WI.

Marc Dombrosky is an artist based in Tacoma. He is a recipient of a 2005 Tacoma Artist Initiative Grant and holds an MFA from The Ohio State University. Recent works are included in the exhibition "Skirting the Line: Conceptual Drawing" at the Peeler Art Center at DePauw University (through May 7, 2006). He is currently an instructor for Cornish College of the Arts.

Etsuko Ichikawa works with mixed media for her two and three-dimensional works of art, which include large-scale installations. Her recent and upcoming projects include a large-scale installation at Bumbershoot in September 2005, a scenic design for Degenerate Art Ensemble at the Moore Theatre in March 2006, and a solo show at Gallery4Culture in April 2007. She is a recipient of PONCHO Artist in Residence awards, 4Culture Arts Special Projects grant, among others. Born in Tokyo and she maintains her studio in Seattle.