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Near the rivers there are many large springs | Milena Arango, Donna Ruff, KX2 (Ruth Avra and Dana Kleinman)

Near the rivers there are many large springs is an exhibition that highlights the Florida landscape from the lenses of four South Florida artists that use historical elements, raw data, repurposed materials, and nature to create awareness of the changing environment in the area. Milena Arango’s leaf imprints on paper and textile using natural pigments extracted from the teak tree serve as a reflection of her personal journey. Her 197-feet long VTG (Vestigium Tectona Grandis) exposes traces of leaves and the effects of land and water from multiple landscapes. Donna Ruff’s interest in history and the tropical landscape led her to discover archival landscape photographs in a 1920’s book by John Kunkel Small. Inspired by his call to protect Florida’s wetlands a century ago, Ruff’s created silkscreens from her landscape photographs on locations previously captured by Small, and printed them on pages of a book by Small that identifies flora in Miami. KX2 presents artworks made with repurposed materials, raising awareness on issues related to climate change and water infrastructure. Boil Notice focuses on a lack of access to potable water, industrial waste pollution, and the effect of climate change on our water infrastructure. And works from Obstruction Series aim to raise an awareness of the dependence on the vast and hidden networks of utility pipes of our modern world and the pressures they face with climate change, population growth and pollution.

The title of the exhibition comes from the book Ferns of Florida by John Kunkel Small, repurposing a phrase used to describe the lavish conditions that Florida’s landscape offers for the abundant growth of ferns. For an exhibition that celebrates repurposing, re-using, and recovering, the use of this phrase, written almost a hundred years ago, serves as a reminder of the natural conditions of the land we currently inhabit.

About the Artists

Milena Arango, is a Colombian artist based in West Palm Beach. She thrives on adventure and the exploration of new ideas to create compelling works of art. Her journey into the world of art was ignited by her mother’s boundless curiosity and zest for life, at a time when she had the privilege of experiencing diverse cultures, languages, and people. Arango earned a degree in Visual Arts from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, embarking on a journey into the realm of theater shortly thereafter. This diversification of artistic pursuits has enriched her creative process, where she continuously exploring new techniques and embracing risks, finding inspiration in the unexpected and seizing opportunities with the first object that comes to hand.

Donna Ruff was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lives and works in Miami, Florida. Ruff received an MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 2000. She works in mixed media on handmade paper and on found printed matter, such as newspapers, books, and historical documents. Ruff questions how written and photographic narratives are constructed by removing and transforming printed text and image to recontextualize the portrayal of world events. Selected solo exhibitions include “Terra Incognita” (2023) Deering Estate, Miami, Florida; “Based on a True Story,” (2023) Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco, California; “The Subject Speaks its Own Importance” (2020) Rick Wester Fine Art, New York, New York. Selected group shows include “Fit to Print” (2021) Print Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; “Spheres of Meaning” (2019) Patricia and Philip Frost Art Museum, Miami, Florida; and “The Times” (2016) FLAG Foundation, New York, New York. Ruff is the recipient of the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant, a Miami Individual Artist Grant, and the Ellies Creator Award. Public collections that include her work are the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Morgan Library, Smith College, New Mexico Museum of Art, The Philip, and Patricia Frost Art Museum, among others.

KX2 is a collaboration combining the strengths of artists and sisters Ruth Avra and Dana Kleinman who create mathematically inspired sculpture merging metal and painting.  From a distance the work is bold and geometric, yet up close the viewer is engaged by textural hand-sanded metal and multi-layered paintings. By exploring geometry, symmetry and connection, their work aims to create a moment of pause, inviting the viewer to escape the stresses of the day and find a space to achieve balance. In their most recent work, themes related to environmental issues are presented with the hope to raise an awareness of the fragility of our natural ecosystems. 

Since establishing their artistic collaboration in 2007, KX2’s work has been featured in notable galleries and museums around the world. Importantly, the work was leveraged to the international art scene with an invitation to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Biennale at the National Art Museum of China. Their work can be found in numerous private, corporate, and public art collections throughout North America. Avra and Kleinman currently reside with their individual families in Southern Florida.

KX2 is environmentally conscious of material choices, using up to 50% recycled metals and recycled canvas.

Exhibition On View: April 11 through July 20, 2024

VIEW EVENT

TOXIC/NATURE STUDIOS: Which Side Are You On? | EAST GALLERY

APRIL 11 – JULY 20 2024

Toxic/Nature Studios features environmental photography that celebrates the majesty of nature and laments its demise, in small moments. Using close-up macro techniques, the photographs express my appreciation for and concern about the environment. As we become increasingly distracted by our devices, we tend to overlook small disasters beneath our feet.  Likewise, we can fail to notice the beautiful moments present in nature.  I explore these concepts in the “Toxic” and “Nature” galleries on my website ToxicNature.com.  Beauty can also be found in the rust, decay, and textures of everyday objects, which I highlight in the “Manufactor” gallery, found on the website as well.

All photos are taken by me, Scott Schneider, with an iPhone, thereby leveraging the power of technology to observe rather than to distract.  I take photos every day, no matter where I am or what I’m doing.  I don’t go out to take pictures; I take pictures because I’m out. From my photographs, I create archival, digital pigment prints using environmentally friendly inks on bamboo paper, which is highly sustainable. In addition to my photos, I have crafted a series of sculptural pieces which I’m calling “3D(isasters).”  This thought-provoking artwork is designed to challenge the viewer to make sense of the quantity of litter displayed in a #finditfillit container.

I hope that my art will inspire others to notice the world around them and to take action to preserve its natural beauty.  We can’t do this while plugged in and tuned out. That’s why I ask viewers to unplug, look around, and get the small picture. By turning off our blinders of technology, and noticing the small detail of a piece of litter, a fallen petal, or an interesting bit of rust, we can then look up and notice the big picture, which is that the world needs our help.

– Scott Schneider

VIEW EVENT

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