In Lieu of Flowers

George Ferrandi

September 9th - October 2nd 2005

Cinders gallery is pleased to present the first New York solo exhibition of work by artist George Ferrandi. For this exhibition, the tragic-comic relationships depicted in George's characteristic wall drawings have been translated into a sculptural installation dedicated to her dad, who died this summer. The cast of characters in this new work is different - or perhaps they have just been unmasked - but the dark whimsy is still there, as are the bruised and tender feelings. George Ferrandi's sculptures range in scale from moles to mountains. The hollow plaster construction and exposed armatures of her figures give them the feel of processional saints, puppets and propaganda figures. Her paper sculptures glow - bright with the power of raw vulnerability. The arrangement of these objects for "in lieu of flowers" addresses how our losses magnify the significance of even our most humble offerings. George Ferrandi studied sculpture at Virginia Commonwealth University, earned her Graduate Degree from Ohio State University and was an Asst. Professor of Sculpture at the University of Florida for 4 years before moving to New York. She has also taught at the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, North Carolina and at Enquentros Cultural Center in Lima, Peru. George's work has been featured in several shows at Cinders including Little Might Big, I find you: a gathering of drawings, and The Porch Show. See Opening Pics here Read the NY Times review Here