Material Is Medium and Message in Pace U. Show

"Tangled," altered bible, 2005, by Linda Ekstrom

"Substance," an exhibit of abstract works by four visual artists who use materials as their medium of expression and social commentary, is on display at the Pace University Art Gallery, 41 Park Row, through Oct. 30. 

For Diego Anaya, that means the celebration of his Mexican heritage through the use of ground corn, corn ash, and sand with which he creates rough and uneven surfaces. Liz Atz’s large scale window installation is made of biodegradable plastics, a commentary on materialism and consumption. Linda Ekstrom incorporates altered pages from the bible as a means to express feminist issues in Jewish and Christian traditions. And Alberto Lule critique’s the country’s prison system with the use of fingerprinting material. Also included in the digital version of  the show is Adebunmi Gbadebo, who Blues People is meant to represent history and identity by the use of prints of historical documents onto paper embedded with Black hair. She will give an online artist talk on Monday, Oct. 18 at 11 am.

The show is curated by Sarah Cunningham and Samantha L. Smith. An in-person reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 22, from 5-7 p.m.