Catherine Menard - Exhibitions

Irvine, CA - Unveil Gallery is thrilled to announce the debut solo exhibition of artist Catherine Menard, titled Pillar to Post. Building upon her established sculptural, performative, and experiential practices, Menard presents a compelling body of work that pushes boundaries and invites viewers to engage in profound exploration. The exhibition will run from April 20th to May 25th, with an opening reception scheduled for April 20th.

Catherine Menard is a Los Angeles based artist working across a range of media including video, performance, installation, painting, and sculpture. She often unites these elements to create site- specific and immersive environments that may amount to “total works.” Menard trained classically as a ballet dancer for over ten years, graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy as a Theatre Performance major (2005) and received both her Bachelor of Science in Spatial Experience Design (2014) and Master of Fine Art (2023) from ArtCenter College of Design.

In considering the concept for the exhibition, the phrase "from pillar to post" resonated deeply with Menard, a phrase which means being moved from one distressing circumstance to another without purpose or improvement. Originating from medieval torture practices, this phrase first found its place in literature in an epic poem titled "The Assemble of Goddes," attributed to an anonymous woman author. Hoping to find unique inspiration from the poem, the artist found instead that the classical presentation of this council of gods and goddesses was simply a ploy to ultimately reinforce oppressive concepts like fear, guilt, and repentance.

Rather than finding hope or relief, the artist encountered our most infamous oppressor and the enduring symbol of the pillory. Turning then to philosopher Julia Kristeva's teachings on the catharsis of artmaking as an escape from existential and literal horrors, the artist aims to create a multisensory environment for the exhibition. Through performance, sound composition, and found-object sculpture, Menard recontextualizes and interrogates meanings, defiantly engaging with punitive symbols in an act of self-reflection and historical contemplation.

A Reception for Pillar to Post will be held on Saturday, Apr 20th, 2024, 5:00 – 8:00 PM. The exhibition will be on view through May 25th, 2024.

For all press inquiries, please contact: info@unveilgallery.com