Art gallery displays “Scaling Routine”

The CSU-Pueblo Art Gallery is currently featuring an exhibit called “Scaling Routine.” The exhibit showcases rugs from the CSU-Pueblo Orman Collection alongside the work of two contemporary artists.

“Scaling Routine” opened on Nov. 8, and will run until Dec. 5. The exhibit is based on the theme of time, routine and the way that people handle everyday events.

Assistant Art Professor Caroline Peters said she chose the theme of the show after learning about the history of the rugs that are featured in the exhibit.

The Navaho rugs that are on display are called Germantown eye dazzlers. The rugs were woven by Navaho women during their free time, and each one represents an entire years worth of time.

“I started thinking about people’s everyday routine.” Peters said. “I asked myself what that routine added up to in the end. Will we be able to look back on the thing we did everyday and see something beautiful?”

The multi-colored rugs are bright spots of color among the other, more neutral tones in the gallery. According to Peters the rugs are designed to be both eye-catching and hypnotizing, making it easy to lose track of time. 

The contemporary works that are being shown alongside the rugs are also themed around time. Every piece in the show was created using a very labor intensive process.

Jennifer Reifsneider is one of the two contemporary artists who are showing their pieces in the show. Many of her works feature knitting and sewing techniques, or demonstrate other ways to manipulate textiles.

“Each stitch in the work represents a moment in time.” Peters said. “But it becomes more than that because we see the finished work as art.”

Colorado-based artist Christine Marie Davis, the other artist whose work is on display, uses found objects in her work. Davis was in attendance at the show’s opening, and said that her work is all about contrast.

“Many of my pieces have to do with the human body,” Davis said. “It’s about the difference between hard and soft, civilized versus primitive.”

Found objects, textiles and different types of hair and fur make up the majority of Davis’ pieces.

Davis has been given several different grants for her work, which she describes as fetishes, or pets.  ”My pieces are designed to give people the irresistible desire to touch them.” Davis said.

Examples of Davis’ work can be found at www.tactileart.com.

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