Play
Related Press:
James Kalm. “Ben Godward: ‘Voitenko vs. Berkeley’ at Norte Maar,” James Kalm Report, Mar 29. (Video)
Sharon Butler. “Bed Godward’s Exploded View,” Two Coats of Paint, Mar 28. (PDF)
Paul D’Agostino. “Ben Godward: More Rules to Follow, More Rules to Break,” L Magazine, Mar 13. (PDF)
Katarina Hybenova. “5 Bushwick Art Openings That Are Worth the Train Ride,” Bushwick Daily. Feb 28. (PDF)
Katarina Hybenova. “Bed Godward: How To Make a Toxic Candy Sculpture,” Bushwick Daily, Feb 28. (PDF)
Susan Canning. “Art Around New York,” Sculpture Magazine, Dec 2014. (PDF)
new work by Ben Godward
Mar 1-Mar 24, 2013
Opening reception: Fri, Mar 1, 6-9pm
Norte Maar, 83 Wyckoff Avenue, #1B, Brooklyn
Directions: L Train to Brooklyn. Dekalb Stop.
Hours: Weekends 1-6pm and by appointment: 646-361-8512
Norte Maar is pleased to present the work of Ben Godward in his first solo exhibition with the gallery. At the heart of the exhibition titled Play, is a single work by Godward, an audacious sculpture comprising the artist’s balance of impulsive chaos and structured play. Also on exhibition will be a selection of the artist’s psychedelic prints editioned by Fortress to Solitude as well as his works on paper (nail polish paintings on lottery scratch offs). The exhibition opens with a reception for the artist on Friday, March 1, 6-9pm and will be open to the public weekends 1-6pm through March 24.
A prominent figure in the Bushwick art scene, Ben Godward’s sculptures resemble the all-over approach of the famed abstract expressionists, and reveal underlying themes of pop culture, ravenous consumption, and a suggestion of toxic waste. Employing plastic, rubber, found objects and urethane foam his large, multi-colored sculptures reference the material exacerbations of our contemporary commodity driven culture.
Godward’s sculptures are reflections of himself, contradictory and impulsive. In particular, Godward responds to the slick and saturated media of the world we live in with organic imagery carrying references to food, sex and industrial manufacturing waste. These references take the form of bright organic formations of foam. They are exacerbations of material excess and imperial gluttony.
Play is an important part of Godward’s process. “If I always knew what would happen, it wouldn’t be worth doing,” he says.
Ben Godward (b. 1980, Indianapolis, IN) studied art at Alfred University and received his MFA from University at Albany. Residencies include: Socrates Sculpture Park (’11) and Jerome Foundation Fellow at Franconia Sculpture Park (’10); selected exhibitions include: Nazareth College of Rochester, Rochester, NY (‘12), New York Center for Art and Media Studies, NYC (’12), Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City, NY (‘11), Storefront, Brooklyn (’10), Famous Accountants (‘09); Pocket Utopia, Brooklyn (’09), The Laundromat Gallery, Brooklyn (‘08), and Moti Hasson Gallery, NYC (‘08). Godward lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
