The Front Room Gallery is proud to present Flight Lessons, a solo exhibition of ceramics and installations by Sascha Mallon. The exhibit features Mallon's unique three-dimensional drawings. Utilizing an array of ceramic components, crochet, and wall paintings, the artist creates large installations that seamlessly adapt to various spaces. Each piece, ranging from 5” to 30” in size, is crafted from fired and glazed stoneware and porcelain, enriched with fiber art techniques including crochet, tatting, and bobbin lace.
Flight Lessons explores innovative modes of practice in contemporary ceramics, combining multiple techniques to weave a rich visual narrative, exposing the complex interplay between dreams and fears. This exhibition presents visual vignettes that tell a non-linear story of a wolf who yearns to fly and the birds that aspire to match his strength, creating a narrative rich with symbolism and introspection.
Flight Lessons illustrates a wolf’s journey as he grapples with his desire to soar, crafting makeshift wings and facing repeated failures, while several birds navigate their own struggles with the fearsome raven king. This tale, told in a non-chronological manner, concludes with a heartfelt resolution where the wolf learns to care for the birds and finds his own wings growing, capturing a transformative narrative of empathy and growth.
Mallon's creative process involves a dynamic conversation with herself, resulting in a fluid process of creation and reflection rather than a series of discrete projects. The narratives explored in Flight Lessons are not fairy tales but profound artistic interpretations of personal and existential themes. The artist's Buddhist perspective informs their approach, emphasizing perception, reality, and the transformative power of the mind.
Inspired by her work as a resident artist at The Creative Center in Mount Sinai Hospital, Mallon incorporates her experiences with individuals facing profound challenges into her art. This influence explores themes such as compassion, human connection, and the blurred lines between perceived adversaries and internal struggles.
Flight Lessons invites viewers to engage with the artist’s ongoing exploration of humanity, emotional depth, and the quest for peace. The exhibition opens at Front Room Gallery on October 19th, with a reception with the artist scheduled from 4-6PM. The show will run until November 24th, 2024.