Main Gallery
Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial
Opening reception, Friday, April 12th from 7-9 p.m.
Join us on Friday, April 12 as the Hammond Regional Arts Center presents a 3-D sculptural experience honoring the legacy of Marjorie Morrison, wife of former U.S. Representative Jimmy Morrison and longtime advocate of the arts.
Morrison was a lifelong supporter of the cultural efforts in Hammond and a continued patron of the arts in the Southeast Louisiana region. She was a key player among the original members of the HRAC (formerly the Hammond Cultural Foundation), who helped get the non-profit organization off the ground 40 years ago. Morrison served as one of the organization’s earliest presidents and spent countless hours promoting the arts in Louisiana.
In 1985, she appeared before the Tangipahoa Parish Police Jury with a resolution to make the Hammond Cultural Foundation the official arts organization of the Parish, which was unanimously approved. In 2010, Louisiana Public Broadcasting honored her advocacy and philanthropy by recognizing her as a “Louisiana Legend.”
To celebrate her lifetime dedication to the arts, the Arts Center hosts a sculpture exhibition every other year in her honor and memory.
The 8th Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial is curated by New Orleans sculptor Ryan Gianelloni. The Biennial features the artwork of Cindy Blair, Becky Burt, Benjamin Diller, Josh Duncan, Julie Glass, Ryan Gianelloni, Jim Grice, Jerry Hymel, Hans Kuebler, Pat Macaluso, Jeff Mickey, Cecelia Moseley, Martin Needom, Otto Ochs, Sally Richards, Emery Kate Tillman, Kim Zabbia and Luba Zygarewicz.
The exhibition will open with a public reception at the Arts Center on April 12 from 7-9 p.m. and will remain on display in the gallery until May 30.
Curator's Statement:
Navigating the landscape of an open-call exhibition demanded a fluid curatorial approach that evolved organically with the influx of diverse artistic expressions. As the submissions poured in and selections were made, a cohesive visual narrative emerged, rooted in organic shapes and elemental forms.
A standout among the curated works is "RISORGERE [to rise again]," a compelling installation by Luba Zygarewicz. Crafted from a diecast set of salvaged remnants of the Sonoma Wildfires, this piece mirrors a sprue, with each element a symbol of destruction transformed into a collage of hope. Through this artwork, the exhibition becomes a testament to resilience and regeneration in the face of adversity.
Also noteworthy is Katie Singleton's contribution, whose use of wool and fabric breathes life into everyday objects suspended in space. These sculptures invite contemplation, blurring the lines between the familiar and the extraordinary. Together, they contribute to diverse sculpture applications that form a cohesive and visually engaging narrative.
The exhibition unfolds as a journey through a textured atmosphere, where each artwork stands alone in its uniqueness yet collectively weaves a tapestry of interconnected forms. Subtle yet powerful elements such as color, texture and material seamlessly link the diverse artworks, creating a sensory experience for visitors. While these connections may elude immediate notice, they subtly shape the viewer's subconscious, enhancing the exhibition's impact.
Visitors are invited to explore the interplay of destruction and renewal, everyday materials transformed into vessels of artistic expression, and the dialogue between individuality and collective texture.