Kate Corroon Skakel

Statement

I create large scale, temporal installations made of paper, fabric and light, that challenge our preconceived notions of fragility, power and the ways in which we occupy space. My installations take the forms of alcoves or pathways, hung intuitively from ceilings and walls to embrace the viewer. The disorienting use of light, combined with the softness of the fabric, create a totally immersive experience that can transport people out of their own world, into a space where they can allow themselves to feel tender. My pieces are rebellions against the politics of hard power. I am contradicting the notion that space should be taken up with brute force, and instead positing that we need to make room for fragility. When inviting viewers into my works, I am asking them to suspend their disbelief and their frustrations, and instead to be still, for a few moments.I create large scale, temporal installations made of paper, fabric and light, that challenge our preconceived notions of fragility, power and the ways in which we occupy space. My installations take the forms of alcoves or pathways, hung intuitively from ceilings and walls to embrace the viewer. The disorienting use of light, combined with the softness of the fabric, create a totally immersive experience that can transport people out of their own world, into a space where they can allow themselves to feel tender. My pieces are rebellions against the politics of hard power. I am contradicting the notion that space should be taken up with brute force, and instead positing that we need to make room for fragility. When inviting viewers into my works, I am asking them to suspend their disbelief and their frustrations, and instead to be still, for a few moments.

GlogauAIR Project

Fiber art has always been considered women’s work, and never fully respected. It was seen as frivolous or silly. But, darning, a traditional mending practice, fixes what is broken. Darning a sweater is a way of imbibing it with it love- you are putting your energy into something to ensure it lasts. This practice is a rejection of consumerist culture; I would rather fix something that I already own than buy more things. In the end, I am creating something stronger, more beautiful and more loved than when I found it. Throughout my residency I will be searching for ways to bring darning into the cityscape. New York is the most expensive city in the world, but it’s infrastructure is failing. By putting darned works throughout the boroughs I am offering up a reminder that we can help mend the world around us. This work is inspired by both graffiti artists and traditional weavers.

CV Summary

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• 2021 Murmurations, Vol. 2, Art Austerlitz, Austerlitz, NY
• Negative/Positive, Window on Hudson, Hudson, NY
• 2020 Untitled (Red, Reemay and Cotton), The In View Project, Danbury, CT
• Untied Loose End, Shoebox Space, Digital Gallery
• Murmurations, Studio Faire Artist Residency, Nerac, France (Presented Digitally)
• 2018 Falling South, The Avondale Arts Center, Westerly, RI
• Works of Paper, Book Club Gallery Cooperative, New Orleans, LA
• 2016 Works in Print, The Avondale Arts Center, Westerly, RI
• Living Womb, Williams Hall, The University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

• 2022 Art in the Open, Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA
• 2020 Ether Vol. 1, In/Passing, Manhattan, NY (Presented Digitally)
• Behind Closed Doors, Studio Appaix, New Orleans LA (Presented Digitally)
• You’re Standing Too Close, SKAVO Gallery, Westerly, RI
• 2019 Grand Point Weird, Grand Point North Arts and Music Festival, Burlington, VT
• Show Me Your Paper, Women Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
• Watch Hill Improvement Society Photography Show, Watch Hill Improvement Society, Watch Hill, RI
• Mail Art Biennial, Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• Infinity in a Tiny Room, SKAVO Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• South Brooklyn Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
• 2018 Table of Contents, Book Club Gallery Cooperative, New Orleans, LA
• 2017 Yestermorrow Design and Build School Woodworking Certificate Program Final Show, Warren, VT
• 2016 Exposed, The Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, Vermont
• Communications in Color, The Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
• Exquisite Corpse in 3D, The Francis Colburn Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
• 2015 Abstraction, The Francis Colburn Gallery, The University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

ARTIST RESIDENCIES

• 2023 GlogauAir Online Residency, Berlin, Germany
• 2020 New York Crit Club Member, Fall 2020 Participant, Instructed by Demetrius Oliver
• New York Crit Club Member, Spring 2020 Participant, Instructed by Arthur Pena
• Studio Faire Artist Residency, Nerac, France
• Critical Feedback Program, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Instructed by Margie Neuhaus
• 2019 Critical Feedback Program, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Instructed by Catherine Haggarty
• New York Crit Club Member, Fall 2019 Semester Participant, New York, NY, Instructed by Hillary Doyle
• Open Wabi Artist Residency, Fredricktown, Ohio

COLLABORATIONS & TALKS

• 2022 Culture Tennis X Kate Corroon Skakel, bespoke embroidered merchandise collaboration
• 2020 Featured Artist, Corona Times, Digital Publication
• 2019 Creator and Director, Corroon 2D Art Exchange, Throughout the US
• 2018 Invited Speaker at the City Year Professional Networking Event, New Orleans, LA

Gallery