To The Mast explores how light, faith, language, and process intersect, encouraging conversations surrounding what each of these entities might be on their own and together. This exhibition is the launch of WET PAINT, a creative collective founded by artist Nate Myers, and dedicated to celebrating the art of now – contemporary creation that operates out of the trenches of the everyday art-gutter—outside the institution of the modern gallery. This physical and discursive space was created for everyone. It does not seek to answer questions but rather ask them, and it does not seek to form beauty but rather present new ideas of what beauty can be: a fragment of light dancing on the wall, a shard of glass on the street, a piece of fabric that asks you to notice the intricacy of its details.

In Homer’s The Iliad, the Greek hero Odysseus ties himself to the mast of his own ship when passing the temptation of the Sirens. To the Mast suggests that, like Odysseus, we can persevere through our deepest and most isolating trials by committing to resiliency, determination, creativity, and hope. By using light as both a material and subject, Nate Myers and Catherine Gould have faith that this object is available, that it is good, and that it is worth noticing. This requires resilience, a tying of oneself to one’s mast, to trust that despite the complexities of our external world and internal universes, where we are going is covered in the warmth of dappled light.

CURATOR: Grace Oller

ARTISTS: Catherine Gould + Nate Myers

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A sincere, heartfelt thanks for the support and bolstered encouragement to formalize this investigation and play of light, we hold you dear.

COLLAB Fabrication and Innovation Lab x Dickie’s Fellowship, Church of the City of New York, Urban Glass, SOMMwhere, Chrissy Constable, Alexa Cummins, Josh Dunn, Nick Gawry, Carissa Gould, Joanna Kyte, Galt MacDermot, Melissa Mollener, Melany Prieb, Tyler Prieb, Daché Rogers,+ Brad Waston

A space where offbeat art concepts and mediums can converse, be chewed on, and explored. WET PAINT is a launchpad for artists, craftsmen, and curators alike, hosting exhibitions that celebrate the art of now—contemporary creation that operates out of the trenches of the everyday art-gutter—outside the institution of the modern gallery.