Still alone together: two exhibits a decade apart reflect on connectedness
Kimberly and David Hocking invited 50 artists to explore what it means to feel “Rooted” in the newest exhibit currently being displayed at Greenly Art Space in Signal Hill.
Each piece deals with facets of life that kept people connected to their place in the world despite the turmoil of the pandemic.
“For this one, ‘Rooted,’ [we’re] really getting people to reflect on these last months that we’ve had COVID,” Kimberly said. “And what things they’ve been rooted in. And I think that that’s just something that we can all connect to and relate to and so it helps to build connections between artists and their viewers.”
The resulting artwork includes over 100 works in various mediums.
“In the context of these challenging times, participating artists were asked to consider their own ‘rootedness,'” the press release said. “Whether in the natural world, family, heritage, gender identification, or artistic practices.”
Exploring the idea of being rooted in family, artist Rivka Nehorai created a chaotic abstract painting of her 7-year-old daughter’s face.
In Nehorai’s painting, tumultuous multi-colored lines and strokes come together to create a face with the slightest of smiles.
“In the swirl of chaos, there is the bright, piercing light of love and connection that we found with each other,” Nehorai said.
During the pandemic, Nehorai and her daughter left their home in New York and moved to California.
“We went through a lot during the pandemic,” Nehorai said, “As the world raged around us and we moved across the country. But during that time, there was a love that encircled us, that reminded us – we exist for each other. And that light and love kept me rooted and focused on moving forward, every day.”
Other artists inverted the theme of the exhibit, and created work about how the pandemic made them feel uprooted.
Artist Connie DK Lane created a three-dimensional work of art that explores her experience as a Chinese American during the pandemic.
Her piece, Chinese American, is a block covered in both English and Chinese text that has been split in half, covered in streaks of black and red paint, with the two halves loosely sewn together in the middle.
“Being troubled by the racial violence against Asians during the pandemic, this piece is to express my uprooted belonging as well as a way to amplify Asian voices,” Lane said.
As of Saturday, Aug. 7 — the “Rooted” exhibit’s opening night — Greenly Art Space has been operating in Signal Hill for 11 years.
The Hockings simultaneously celebrated another milestone that night — their 28th wedding anniversary.
“We had our first show on our wedding anniversary 11 years ago,” Kimberly said, “So it feels really great to be able to do this because I think we’re both artists, we both have a passion for being able to support the community and being able to put together work like this. So I think it’s really special for us to have made it this long, to still be around, and still have such great support from people.”
Among the artwork was a collection of photographs that were displayed as part of Greenly’s first exhibit 11 years ago. It was a year-long photography project the Hockings worked on together, “Abductions 1993.”
“We were getting ready to get married and so that was kind of a neat space for us,” Kimberly said. “It’s like we’re working on something together, we’re able to create that together.”
The year they got married, 1993, the Hockings drove around looking for Volvos to photograph. They amassed 365 photos of Volvos on the road, as well as the drivers within.
The photos currently on display in “Rooted” are only a small sample from the original “Abductions 1993” exhibit.
The Volvos each appear in different circumstances: driving ahead of the Hockings on a busy road at night, stopped at an intersection, or framed in a rear-view mirror. Sometimes the faces of the drivers are visible, while in other photos they’re only a blur.
The couple was driving back from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art when they came up with the idea for “Abductions 1993.” The couple noticed how isolated the individual drivers seemed despite being surrounded by others in the middle of traffic.
“Everyone’s kind of very close together and moving in the same direction,” David said, “Everyone’s very separate as well. So that kind of brought us into this concept of trying to try to break down that barrier, and breaking down the barrier by taking photos and in a way that’s a little intrusive.”
The concept of being alone while simultaneously going through a group experience echoes the events of the pandemic. In the same way drivers on a highway are all traveling together yet separated from each other, humanity went through the pandemic together while largely isolated from each other.
Part of the proceeds from the “Rooted” exhibit will go towards the Art For Change Foundation, a nonprofit based in New Delhi, India that is raising funds to build a new Center for Art. The multipurpose center will provide a gathering place for artists in India, and give them the support and resources needed to pursue their art.
“This theme ‘Rooted’ is as universal as it is personal,” Isaac Gregan, director at Art for Change Foundation, said. “An apt meditation in these times, on that which gives us strength, bridging borders, connecting cultures and people.”
Greenly Art Space is located at 2698 Junipero Ave #113 in Signal Hill. “Rooted” will be on display on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or by appointment until Oct. 9. To make an appointment call 562-533-4020.
