at is now, is not the time

"at is now, is not the time" is an exhibition that explores the relationships we have with the different spaces we inhabit. The work began as a combination of experimentation and intuition through a deep exploration of window screens – subtle, yet powerful dividers that separate our interior sanctuaries and external unknowns.

This body of work started with a series of fifty screen prints, all carefully created according to a consistent set of rules, and with each print serving as a stepping stone that informed the next. Fascinated by the symbolism inherent in window screens, I delved into representing their patterns, textures, and the interplay of light through different ephemeral compositions.

Inspired by tapestries and fiber arts, I started to see parallels between window screens and decorative weavings found in domestic settings. In their own unique ways, they both serve as guardians of our personal spaces. This marked a turning point for the works, leading me to experiment with converting the prints into large weavings created on a Jacquard Loom. The resulting pieces resonated with a domestic familiarity, evoking feelings of comfort and home, while also acknowledging the thin barrier that divides the different worlds we inhabit. I became fixated on the idea of “looking in to look out”.

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Embedded within the weavings is a strong influence of minimalism and the philosophy of phenomenology — the way the body thinks through unmediated perception, rather than through reason and words. This approach rewards viewers with an instantaneous, intuitive sense of presence, which encourages them to engage with the work. My hope is to create work that provides a window into a new way of observing and perceiving our surroundings, while allowing the viewer to reflect on their own place in space.

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Artist Bio:

Ilan Gutin (b. 1986) is originally from the Washington D.C. area, and received his BA in Studio Arts in Printmaking from the University of Maryland in 2008, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in Printmedia in 2014. He is an interdisciplinary artist, and extensive world traveler, and has used his experiences abroad to help shape his studio practice. Formalism, the ephemerality of light, place, and the wonder of looking are recurring themes in his work. He has exhibited his work both nationally and internationally in places such as Reykjavik, Chicago, and Denver.

Before moving to Denver ins 2020, Ilan was a faculty member in the Fiber and Material Studies Department at SAIC and was also the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Fernwey Gallery in Chicago, which focused on promoting the work of emerging and mid-career artists in and around Chicago. Currently, he is the Gallery Curator at Art Gym Denver where he also serves as the Membership and Program Director. Ilan is also a Board Member of Tilt West, a local non-profit dedicated to providing platforms for community exchange about art, ideas, and culture.

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‍Public Hours:

Thursdays through Sundays, 12:00pm – 6:00pm, October 1st – October 29th, 2023

Opening Celebration: Friday, October 6th 6:00pm  – 9:00pm

Understudy is free-to-visit and open to all. We are located at the Colorado Convention Center / Theatre District light rail stop near 14th and Stout. Look for the Shantell Martin art bench.

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