OVERFLOWS
Ritter Art Gallery, Boca Raton
Opening Reception: August 31st, 6:30 pm
On View: August 14 - October 28th, 2023
Artists: Michelle Drummond, Evelyn Politzer , Andrea Spiridonakos
Curator: Véronique Côté
Worldwide, females spend an astonishing 200 million hours collecting water daily. This relentless burden robs them of time to learn, play, earn an income, rest, and care for their family. Against this backdrop of adversity and resilience, OverFlows brings together three South Florida fiber artists to study water’s political, aesthetic, and economic implications. In the hands of artists Michelle Drummond, Evelyn Politzer, and Andrea Spiridonakos, inherently soft materials—yarn, felt, roving, and thread—are transformed into mesmerizing masterpieces that reverberate with hard impact!
Using inherently soft materials - yarn, felt, roving, and thread - Michelle Drummond, Evelyn Politzer, and Andrea Spiridonakos create captivating works that pack a hard punch! Conveying nature’s plea for interconnectedness while sensitizing us to the inequalities and privileges around access to natural resources, these three creators use water as a theme, a tool, or a metaphor for movement, power, balance and flow. Their traditionally feminine crafts of weaving, knitting, and felting are strenuous work of repetitive motions resulting in a tapestry of revelations where the labor-intensive processes mirror the toilsome tasks inherent in pursuing justice, equality, and environmental sustainability.
Amidst the contemplative beauty, it is crucial to recognize the global crisis surrounding water cleanliness. Shockingly, over 2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, leading to a cascade of health challenges and impeding progress across societies.
As patrons of the arts, we are beckoned to immerse ourselves in the layers of OverFlows, to engage with its stories, and to introspect upon the pivotal issues they so eloquently bring to the forefront. In celebrating the fluidity of artistic expression, we also acknowledge the steadfast resolve required to dismantle barriers and effect meaningful change that can empower women and girls, alleviate their burdens, and pave the way for a future where every individual can partake in the fullness of Mother Nature’s offerings.
Images (top to bottom): Picture 1: Evelyn Politzer, Every Drop Counts, 2017,hand dyed yarn, embroidery, repurposed fibre; Evelyn Politzer, “Because I Say So” signed Mother Nature, 2022, reupholstered chair, cotton canvas, acrylic paint and embroidery | 42” x 24” x 46”. Picture 2: Evelyn Politzer, Every Drop Counts, 2017,hand dyed yarn, embroidery, repurposed fibre; Michelle Drummond, 2020, Navigating the System, 40" x 30" x 4"; Andrea Spiridonakos, Eye Candy Part, 2023, lacquered reclaimed chair, fur; Andrea Spiridonakos, 2023, Untitled Spool Series 1 & 2, raw wool fiber, wood, cotton batting; Andrea Spiridonakos, When the Oceans Drank Atlantis, 2021, raw wool and silk fiber, oak, burlap lacing, dacron,18.5” x 60” x 23.5”. Picture 3: Michelle Drummond, Droplets, 2022, yarn, glue and acrylic paint on wood 30" x 30"x 10".Picture 4: Free Spirit, Evelyn Politzer, hand-dyed yarn on linen canvas, 80” x 30”, 2021. Picture 5: Various Scarves, Andrea Spiridonakos, silk, hand-painted dye, 44” x 44” , 2023.