INLIGHT 2011

On October 21, 2011, 1708 Gallery's presented its fourth annual InLight Richmond illuminating Richmond's downtown riverfront and the buildings and grounds at historic Tredegar. The 2011 exhibition was selected by juror Matthew Lyons, curator at The Kitchen, in New York.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

18 artists and artist collectives were featured in the InLight 2011 exhibition: Mea Adams, Logan Dennison, Nina Becker, Kathryn Bell, Stefani Byrd, Wes Eastin, Annica Cuppetelli, Cristobal Mendoza, Brian Davis, Paul Mario Elsner, Peter Fraser (with support from Richmond Cycling Corps and Pedal Power), Max Greis, Riley Harmon, Morgan Higby-Flowers, Andrew Kozlowski, Annapurna Kumar, Amanda Long, The Medeology Collective (Kelley McClung, Alessandro Imperato and James Gladman), Dahae Noh, Aaron Raymer, and Jordi Williams.

JUROR’S STATEMENT

The 4th Annual InLight Richmond took place on October 21, 2011 along the banks of the James River and within the remnants of the former Tredegar Iron Works. Beginning in 1837, the iron works operated through the Civil War as well as both World Wars, until production ceased in 1952. The site is now home to the American Civil War Center, the nation's first museum to interpret the Civil War from Union, Confederate, and African American perspectives. This portion of the river and its banks, stretching from Dominion Resources to MeadWestvaco and the Federal Reserve, is also crisscrossed by various pathways for industrial, commuter, and recreational transportation by ship, car, train, bicycle, or foot.

Being that 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, we were so pleased that many of the exhibited artists responded to the unique history of this year's site and its structures. Thus the movements of people through the landscape, the transportation of goods, human labor and struggle, as well as historical conflict have been picked up as themes in many of the exhibited works. Others projects explore more idiosyncratic or abstract worlds, while some invite interaction or make use of human-powered technologies to generate light. Overall, whether abstract or narrative, 2D or performative, site-responsive or self-reflexive, the artworks of InLight Richmond 2011 demonstrate the breadth and diversity of the ways that light-based media are being utilized by contemporary artists today.

- Matthew Lyons

2011 AWARD WINNERS

The Best in Show award, selected by juror Matthew Lyons, was given to Riley Harmon for his performance, Trace.

The Best in Green award, selected by Michael Pellis, AIA, LEED, was given to Jordi Williams for her installation Shine n' Swim.

The People's Choice Award, selected by the audience was given to Peter Fraser for his collaborative installation Inspiration Generation.