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insight and tension as a tiny drop of water is repeatedly pushed just short of its spilling point and then hastily withdrawn.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