ISSUED: 27 January 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s Phaze 2 Gallery is hosting an art installation with sculptural elements titled “Mingling Echoes” by Lauren Koch, adjunct professor of sculpture, February 6-March 3. An opening reception is planned for Monday, February 6, from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
Koch’s art incorporates found and repurposed objects from a personal collection amassed over the past three decades from many places, including her grandparents’ property in Northwest Georgia. Her collection also includes found treasures from flea markets, junk yards, and antique and vintage shops.
Koch’s “Mingling Echoes” exhibit includes written word, sculptural forms, and alchemic reactions—utilizing iron oxide and natural plant colorants that allow exploration of the boundaries of constraint and chaos simultaneously.
In her artist’s statement, Koch says the exhibit offers a glimpse into her inspirations, personal experiences, and how she perceives memory and how they are connected, intertwined, and ultimately, triggered.
On her webpage, Koch calls herself a wanderer at heart but says her roots run deep in the Appalachian foothills of red Georgia clay plowed and planted by her ancestors. She also credits three study abroad experiences in Europe during college with influencing her work.
“Having been steeped in the traditions and crafts of Northern Europe and Appalachia, my artwork serves as a conduit for fleeting personal and collective memories,” she says. “I prefer to work intuitively and follow my emotions, allowing my subconscious to direct my choices.”
Koch earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture and printmaking from the University of West Georgia and her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Maryland.
Phaze 2 Gallery is a cultural contact point between the Shepherdstown community and the world of contemporary art. The Gallery primarily exhibits emerging artists who are working to elevate the way visitors think and see by challenging the popular concepts and traditions of their disciplines. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 12-8 p.m. and Saturday 12-5 p.m.
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