Family Reunion
A solo exhibition by Nancy Larrew
Curated by Peter Frank
Dates: September 4, 2021 – October 4, 2021
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 5pm
Where: bG Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., #A2, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Reception: Saturday, September 11, 2021 5:00 – 8:00pm
As the pandemic eases, restrictions lift, and hearts begin to heal this past year, families, both of origin and choice, long separated have started to unite. It is in this hopeful and considered setting that an ambitious project focused on family connections was born. Artist Nancy Larrew, through her inaugural solo exhibition, Family Reunion, explores the complex nature of familial relationships.
In Roots, the centerpiece of the exhibition, Larrew calculated the sheer number of people and lifetimes necessary to bring her into existence. Going back eight generations, 256 individuals coalesced into two parents to create her. These 256 people, each of her relatives, have been lovingly reproduced in sculptural form. Expanding across the floor of bG Gallery, these sculptural objects offer the possibility, only when observed as a whole, to fully grasp the magnitude of the task Larrew set out to illustrate. It is not just her story but that of every person living today. Other works included in the exhibition explore the creative connection between her siblings and mother, the darker side of families and the ability to create alternative families by choice.
The ambition of the project, coupled with the absolute enormity of lives represented, is awe-inspiring.
Nancy Larrew, earned her BFA with honors from Art Center College of Design. In addition to being a prolific artist, she is also an avid art enthusiast and world traveler. For many years, she has helped to promote the work and careers of artists by producing events, curating exhibitions and collecting art. When she is not traveling or promoting other artists, her mixed media pieces keep her busy, as she strives to create work that has meaning and social impact.
www.NancyLarrew.com IG: @artist_wrangler