The Arts Center at Duck Creek in Springs will open two exhibitions on Saturday: "William King: Sculpture in the John Little Barn" and "and nothing turned itself inside-out," a social media-inspired installation by Ross Watts in the Little Gallery. A reception will take place on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.
King's career as an important sculptor spanned more than 60 years. Coming of age during the ascent of Abstract Expressionism, he charted his own path, creating figurative works admired for their humor and energy.
The New York Times critic Hilton Kramer, in a 1970 essay, noted that a “preoccupation with gesture is the focus of King’s sculptural imagination" and said his sculptures were "notable for their wit, empathy, simplicity and psychological precision.”
The exhibition features King's carved wood and polychrome sculptures, which display his ability to depict humanity with authenticity.
Mr. Watts's installation reflects his experience during the pandemic, during which, he has said, "scrolling, looking, liking became a daily ritual, bordering on addiction."
"In a precarious time where isolation was suddenly the norm, it became a way of connecting to the world outside."
The installation at Duck Creek consists of a series of images in 3-by-3 grids, a large collage of 729 appropriated images, and a video. Insofar as the work explores how Instagram's grid format and the algorithm's "invisible hand" has affected our visual language, the installation takes a conceptual approach to social media.
Both exhibitions will continue through July 10.
