Image: Pyro Gallery, Louisville
Pyro Gallery in Louisville is set to host an artist talk on Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. for 'Tangents', an exhibition by Bette Levy and Jessica Beels that runs from July 31 through Aug. 30. The gallery’s announcement describes the two artists as good friends whose work diverges from traditional treatments of materials and processes while sharing an interest in found objects, whether bought, given or stumbled across.
The exhibition takes its title from the idea of wandering off course, which the gallery says is an apt description of both artists’ approaches. Levy and Beels work in different ways, but the notice emphasizes that each is interested in inventing new forms from existing materials and in reconsidering the meanings attached to everyday things. Their shared attention to the overlooked gives 'Tangents' a common thread even as the individual practices remain distinct.
Levy’s work is rooted in historic handwork techniques. According to the gallery, she pairs vintage tools and other objects with crochet in order to honor different modes of production. Her practice sets up contrasts between men’s work and women’s work, physical labor and sedentary labor, outdoor and indoor activity, and large bodily movement and small repetitive gestures. Pyro Gallery says Levy’s interest in maintaining craft skills reflects a desire to examine history and respect family and gender in an increasingly technological and virtual world.
Beels approaches materials from the opposite direction, repurposing discarded items into small sculptures. The gallery identifies her recycled bird series as a response to paper and packaging waste, presented with a whimsical eye. Beels’ objects depend on unusual juxtapositions that, in the gallery’s words, draw viewers in to look more closely and reconsider assumptions about utility, beauty and worth in ordinary materials.
That environmental dimension is central to the gallery’s description of Beels’ work. Pyro Gallery says she hopes to spark a sense of wonder while also encouraging people to think more carefully about how daily decisions affect the planet. In the context of the exhibition, that concern sits alongside Levy’s attention to craft history, making 'Tangents' a presentation shaped by material reuse, manual processes and the cultural meanings embedded in objects.
Pyro Gallery describes itself as a dynamic collective of contemporary artists based in Louisville, committed to showcasing innovative and thought-provoking work across a variety of mediums and styles. The gallery also says it aims to foster dialogue and engagement within the local arts community. For the exhibition, its posted information gives the gallery address as 1006 East Washington St. in Louisville and lists its hours as Friday and Saturday from 12 to 6 and Sunday from 1 to 4. The artist talk is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 9, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Pyro Gallery.
