Home > VISUAL ARTS > Shiny Monsters: An Installation by Adam Wallacavage

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Shiny Monsters: An Installation by Adam Wallacavage

Presented by Philadelphia Art Alliance at Philadelphia Art Alliance

May 17-August 19, 2012

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Inspired by the Gothic interiors of now-closed Catholic churches he visited throughout Philadelphia, Adam Wallacavage channeled his fascination with chandeliers by creating Jules Verne-inspired lighting for the dining room in his Victorian brownstone. To construct these octopus sculptures, Wallacavage taught himself the traditional techniques of ornamental plastering, which includes large-cast plaster work and hand-sculpted pieces from epoxy-clay. Those initial sculptures inspired Wallacavage to continue to experiment in form, color, and technique, even developing his own unique glazes and application technique to give his pieces a unique vibrant shimmer. More recently, Wallacavage has added his love of kitsch to his sculptures. Casts of cartoon bunnies and elephants, Hello Kitty heads, and vintage toys are incorporated into his pieces, which are then covered in bright glazes in shades such as bubble-gum pink and mint green. The resulting sculptures reflect his varied aesthetic interests, ranging from 16th Century Baroque opulence to 1940s Americana. For his first solo exhibition in Philadelphia, Wallacavage will take inspiration from his lavishly decorated home by presenting several new chandeliers within each gallery.