Johalla Projects is pleased to announce Jessica Taylor Caponigro: Black Damp, its first solo exhibition with Chicago artist Jessica Taylor Caponigro. The exhibition is curated by Aimee Quinkert. It will run from MAY 11 to JUNE 2. Please join us for an opening reception on Saturday, May 11 from 7-10pm.

Jessica Taylor Caponigro’s creative process explores a fascination with the vague familiarity of repetition in prosaic materials. While many of the patterns found within her work seem recognizable on a level, the themes are quite intimate and coexist with both the work’s accessibility and the artist’s personal experiences.

“Black Damp” examines the patterns and narrative situations translated by the film adaptation of a particular piece of literature. For example, DH Lawrence’s classic Sons and Lovers is partially responsible for some of these pieces, as they eclipse specific scenes and become more about the integral life experiences of the characters, as well as those of both the audience and the artist. The literal definition of the term “black damp” is “a non-explosive mine gas that cannot support life or flame.” Had one read Lawrence’s text or had an in-depth conversation with Caponigro about her upbringing and the historical context of the town in which she was raised, the underlying themes would be obviously parallel. Her deliberate choices affect the viewer’s perception, providing that each individual who encounters it has a somewhat communal, but uniquely distinct experience.

JESSICA TAYLOR CAPONIGRO – Before receiving her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Jessica Taylor Caponigro attended Bryn Mawr College where she earned her BA in the History of Art. She has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Olive Harvey College, and Spudnik Press. She is currently an adjunct instructor at Harold Washington College. Jessica was the Spudnik Press Summer Artist in Residence and has been a resident artist at ACRE on two separate occasions. In addition to solo and group shows in Chicago, her work has been exhibited in Long Beach, Philadelphia, and Rome. Her work is in the permanent collections at California State University-Long Beach and the Joan Flasch Artists’ Books Collection. She was also featured in Johalla Projects’ “Wow-House” group show. This is her first solo exhibition with the gallery.

In addition to the pieces on exhibit, there will also be limited edition prints available for sale during the opening reception.

For more information, please contact Anna Cerniglia at johallaprojects@gmail.com.

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Tags: Jessica Taylor Caponigro, Johalla Projects, West Town