Nau-haus Art Space: Richard Soler:/ "Friends and Strangers"/
opening reception -  6 to 9 p.m. Saturday Feb. 6
This exhibition through Feb. 28, 2010. 223 E. 11th;  713-261-1409

contact: Dan Mitchell Allison
http:www.nau-haus.com
dan@nau-haus.com

 

The infinite variations of the human face have been the basis of 
mask-making for millennia. Often made by anonymous artists, masks often 
have the added dimension of magic, fetish, and other ritualistic 
meanings. For me, all faces are masks. I am constantly entertained by 
observing people's faces and finding nature's roots for the grotesque, 
or the breathtaking beauty of classical proportions. I am entranced by 
the baroque, the obfuscated, and the hermetic.

I am like an actor, who can play many roles through my masks. In some, I 
explore the dark world of the unspoken words that are the result of 
choice, force or abuse. Shame and suffering can be expressed by the 
silence of a mask. Other masks explore the world of theater and 
illusion. In a light-hearted way, they can represent the fantasy of the 
mind, where conventional rules are broken. The banal can become charming 
when set in a mask.

Masks explore art history in style and subject. The proportions of 
classical and antique sculpture have long been a well of inspiration for 
many artists. The first masks that I can recall were when I was about 
eight. In Venezuela, my family went to a ceremonial dance of the Diablos 
(devils) of Yare. The dancers, wearing frightening masks that they made 
themselves, danced in front of the church on Good Friday, as if trying 
to enter and repulsed, and at the moment of the Elevation, the devils 
fell dead. These gaudy, horned masks were then sold to the onlookers.

I have made masks ever since I was a teenager, and have made them 
throughout my life. This exhibition represents two years of exploration. 
They include found objects, observations on holy works and beauty in 
general.

Richard Soler received his B. A. at Princeton University Cum Laude in 
art and archaeology, his M.A. at Rice University studying art and art 
history and was the former curator of prints and drawings at the Museo 
de Bella Artes, Caracas Venezuela


Richard Soler, Friends and Strangers, continues from Sat. Feb. 6,  
through Sun.Feb. 28, 2010. Nau-haus Art Space is located at 223 E. 11th 
St. in the Houston Heights. Gallery hours are from noon to 5 Saturdays 
and Sundays or by appointment. Owned and operated by Dan Mitchell 
Allison, Nau-haus is  dedicated to the exploration of new and emerging 
talent, as well as a venue for established work by Houston's independent 
visual artists. For more information visit Nau-haus.com

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_*note to the editor: download 300 dpi images*_ and press release at 
http://www.texascollaborative.com/RichardSolerPressKit.html
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dpi web images at http://www.texascollaborative.com/RichardSoler.html

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