Abstract Dimensions: Dina Wind & Jessica Backhaus

Abstract Dimensions: Dina Wind (1938-2014) & Jessica Backhaus

On view from March 8 to April 22, 2023

Artist Reception & Happy Hour: Friday, March 10th, 5:00 – 7:30pm

Bridgette Mayer Gallery is pleased to announce our spring exhibition, Abstract Dimensions. This special exhibition features sculptures by renowned Philadelphia artist Dina Wind (1938-2014) and photographs by award-winning German artist Jessica Backhaus, brought together in an exciting convergence of shape, color, and shadow. In celebration of these two innovative women artists, the exhibition will open on International Women’s Day (Wednesday, March 8th) and run through Saturday, April 22nd. There will be an opening reception and happy hour on Friday, March 10th from 5:00 – 7:30pm, and both Jessica Backhaus and John Wind, President of the Dina Wind Art Foundation, will be present.

Abstract Dimensions features 16 photographs from Jessica Backhaus, 15 sculptures and assemblages from Dina Wind, and a short documentary video titled The Art of Dina Wind screening in the Vault. Wind’s welded metal sculptures from the 1990’s and 2000’s are unified by a pronounced use of color— both found and enhanced with acrylic paint. These hues, often in the form of crumpled car fenders, contrast with Wind’s signature rusted metal saw blades, springs, and other cast-offs, enlivening them into complex compositions. Her rolled paper wall reliefs from 2006, which are featured in the Vault, offer a whimsical response to Jessica Backhaus’ photographs of cut and composed paper. Backhaus’ Cut Outs series breaks photography down to its most basic elements: color, form, light, and shadow. Her cut outs are created from hand-cut transparent paper that she places on colorful backgrounds, allowing them to naturally curl and transform in the heat of the sun before she photographs each collage. The resulting photos are purely abstract, and explore the three dimensionality also found in Wind’s assemblages and sculptures.

Read the full press release here.