Press release by William Powhida for group show at Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) named The Conversion of Things. Including artists Gabriel Hopson, Rebecca Connolly, and Zhijie Chang.

1. For Immediate Release
The Conversion of Things
September 1st ­ September 24th
Opening reception Thursday, September 1st 6 ­ 9pm
20 Jay Street, Ste M10, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
The AICAD Studio Practice Residency is pleased to announce ​The
Conversion of Things,​ our first exhibition of works by resident artists Gabriel Hopson, Rebecca
Connelly, Zhijie Chang, Jill Taffet, and their mentors Sharon Butler, Aaron Johnson, and Esperanza
Mayobre. The exhibition brings together a range of practices linked together by the dialog between the
artists and their different translations of visual, cultural, and formal languages.
Rebecca Latourette Connolly’s oil paintings examine the dissonant space between visual perception
and cognitive processing. Connolly layers figurative ephemera over ethereal abstract environments to
create microcosms evocative of bodily systems such as nerve structures, neurons, and musculature.
Gabriel Hopson employs a mixed media process of montage; pinning, stacking and bagging objects
such as selfies, packaging materials, hardware, to explore interconnected concepts of computer
technology and identity. Hopson’s self­described Selfie Objects use 3D printing and selfie photographs
to move digital identities into the physical world.
Zhijie Chang, (pronounced Jshu­tsyeh) is a Chinese photographer exploring the genre of portraiture.
Her work investigates transitioning through fashion photography, photo collages and documentary
photography as a reflection of her sincere interest in capturing moments of political consequence and
emotional weight.
Jill Taffet's work explores time, motion and consciousness. Using the medium of digital animation she
draws abstract biomorphic forms that move and react as if they were sentient beings. Together these
forms create a visual language that Taffet mixes and remixes to create motion paintings and large scale
media installations.
Each of the exhibiting residents worked with a mentor artist over the summer to engage in an on­going,
critical discussion of their studio practices. Additionally they participated in financial and writing
workshops with Amy Whitaker (author of ​Art Thinking)​ and Paddy Johnson (publisher of ArtFCity).
This summer’s mentors generously agreed to contribute works to the exhibition to continue the dialog
begun in the studios.
The Conversion of Things ​ opens Thursday, September 1st from 6 ­ 9 pm as part of Art in Dumbo’s First
Thursdays. This is also the first in a new series of monthly exhibitions at the New York Studio
Residency Program’s project space, ​Seminar​ . Upcoming exhibitions include a NYSRP alumni
exhibition curated by Kyle Petreycik, ​Strange Genitals​ curated by Paddy Johnson and Michael Anthony
Farley, and our NYSRP end­of­semester exhibition. ​Seminar ​ is a project space located at 20 Jay
Street in Suite M10 on the mezzanine level (one flight up) in the AICAD New York Studio Residency
Program. ​Seminar is open to public on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 6pm and by
appointment during the week.
Press contact: kyle.petreycik@gmail.com