Chika Matsuda/James Pitt

Melt into the Atmosphere
January 8 – February 5

A man looking at an art installation featuring a suspended brain-like object in a glass tank. The reflection of his face is visible on the tank's glass.
A woman in black bends to touch a pile of yellow feathers on a gallery floor while another observer stands nearby, wearing a green coat and red hat, looking on.
People conversing at an indoor event with a refreshment table to the right, soft lighting, and modern décor.
Three women stand in an art gallery, observing different artworks. One woman views a wall-mounted piece in the background, while the other two talk near the center.
Three women converse in an art gallery, surrounded by artwork. One gestures actively while the other two listen attentively.
Group of people gathered in a casual office setting for a social event, with snacks and drinks on the table in the foreground, and individuals conversing in small groups.
Two people viewing a modern art installation featuring a bright yellow, fluffy object on the floor of a sparse gallery space.
Five people are engaged in conversation in an art gallery, surrounded by artwork and display cases. Two individuals stand on the left, while three others interact near the center.
A dimly lit room featuring a woman and a man viewing an illuminated museum exhibit, likely involving suspended organic shapes within a glass enclosure.
A group of people mingling in an art gallery with dim lighting. Artworks are displayed on the walls and a serving table with beverages is seen in the background.
Three people observing art exhibits in a gallery. Two are discussing by a display case while another examines artwork on the wall. Brightly lit indoor setting.
A group of people standing in an art gallery, engaged in conversation and observing the artwork displayed. The setting features muted lighting and a modern interior.
Two transparent tanks on a metal stand, each containing a large cloud-like sculpture floating above a suspended rock, displayed in a dimly lit room.
A single white candle on a tall, slim pedestal casting a soft glow on a gray wall in a dimly lit room. The surroundings are minimalist and the focus is on the candle.
A security camera mounted on a clear plastic bracket in a corner, with visible cables running along a white wall and entering an outlet baseboard.
An empty gallery space with gray walls, a small pile of yellow material on the floor, and minimalistic white and wood column structures.
Group of people standing and conversing in an art gallery with artworks displayed on the walls and pedestals.
Close-up texture of a dense, fluffy, golden-yellow material resembling wool or fibrous fabric, filling the entire frame with a soft, intricate network.
People viewing an art exhibition in a gallery with beige walls, artwork visible on walls and pedestals, and dim, focused lighting.
Four people in a museum gallery, wearing casual attire, examining artifacts displayed in a glass case.
A black cable plugged into a wall socket, with the cable neatly arranged on a white wall using transparent adhesive clips, creating a clean and organized appearance.
People gather and converse in a museum hallway, with some viewing exhibits and others engaged in conversation. The setting includes soft lighting and neutral walls.
People conversing at an art gallery with snacks and wine on a table in the foreground and various art installations in the background.
Contemporary art installation featuring two glass tanks on pedestals with submerged fabrics and a nearby minimalist sculpture of a white cylinder. The setting is a dimly lit gallery space.
Art gallery with a dimly lit corridor displaying the exhibit "Chika Matsuda: Melt into the Atmosphere." One visible artwork hangs on a distant well-lit wall.
A broken eggshell, with eggshell fragments inside it, cast in soft shadow on a light surface.
A flat-screen television mounted on a gray wall displaying a close-up image of a hand holding a small object, possibly a plant or insect, against a blurred gray background.
A model of a jellyfish in a glass tank, featuring a white, dome-shaped top with thin, thread-like tentacles descending towards a small rock base.
A pile of bright yellow powder arranged on a gray carpet, placed at the corner of a room with white walls and soft lighting.
A vibrant yellow, fibrous material is piled on a gray carpeted floor inside a room with plain white walls, creating a striking color contrast.
An artistic display featuring a floating white form in a clear aquarium, attached by strings to a stone at the bottom, against a gray background.
A close-up image of a blue cable with a white cable clip holding it against a plain white wall. The cable is slightly curved and positioned vertically.
A series of abstract, minimalist wooden sculptures displayed on small shelves along a white gallery wall, each sculpture featuring curved and angular forms.
Sculptural art piece composed of two interconnected, white half-loop forms displayed on a wooden pedestal against a white wall, creating an intriguing shadow.
A modern abstract sculpture made of white material with black accents, displayed on a small wooden shelf attached to a textured wall.
A person in a brown jacket and dark pants standing and looking at several small artworks displayed on a white wall in a gallery setting.
Abstract metal sculpture resembling a pair of walking figures, displayed on a wooden shelf against a textured white wall.
A modern abstract sculpture featuring a white, looped form mounted on a small wooden base, displayed against a textured off-white wall.
Art gallery interior at night with dim lighting, showcasing a wall display of small sculptures. Two blue chairs and reflective glass doors are visible.
A small, abstract wooden sculpture painted in white and black, resembling a stylized arch or gateway, displayed on a dark wooden shelf against a textured white wall.

Press Release

The Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Melt into the Atmosphere, a multimedia installation by emerging artist Chika Matsuda. Utilizing a blend of kinetic sculpture and video, Matsuda’s work investigates themes of unity and tension between people and their environments. Born and raised in Japan, much of Matsuda’s work relates to Eastern philosophy that emphasizes the idea of infinite time space. Matsuda has lived in New Zealand and Arizona for the last seven years where she experienced Western culture, philosophy, and the idea of linear time and space. Melt into the Atmosphere, reconciles the differences between these schools of thought and taps into universal concepts that explore ones presence within the natural world.

Matsuda investigates these universal ideas with everyday materials including twine, paper, plastic tubing, and simple motors. When observing, I cannot be at two places at the same time, (a kinetic sculpture made from plastic tubing and motor) the viewer is faced with poetic insight and tension as a tiny drop of water is repeatedly pushed just short of its spilling point and then hastily withdrawn. These investigations permeate her work.

Currently, Chika Matsuda is finishing her MFA at University of Arizona. In 2009 she was granted the Process-Space Art Festival artist residency in Bulgaria. Matsuda was awarded the exhibition Melt into the Atmosphere by Richard Levy Gallery as the first prizewinner of The Harwood Art Center’s 2009 Crossing exhibition.

A selection of sculptures by James Pitt is presented in the project space.

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Dates: January 8–February 5, 2010
Reception: February 6, 6–8 pm
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com @levygallery