Cleave: Thedra Cullar-Ledford and Charise Isis

Nicole Longnecker Gallery presents Cleave, a pop-up exhibition featuring two artists; Thedra Cullar-Ledford and Charise Isis. The short run exhibit opens Saturday, August 20, 2016 with an opening reception from 5pm –8pm and runs through September 2, 2016.

Cleave features paintings from Thedra Cullar-Ledford and large-format photographically-printed Habotai silks from Charise Isis.

“Two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a bilateral mastectomy, elected not to go through reconstruction, and made angry and emotionally-charged work about it,” said Cullar-Ledford. “I came to realize that breast cancer survivors who defied society’s expectations by not getting reconstruction were (often unintentionally) at the vanguard of a movement that questions the way women are raised, treated and valued. The work in this exhibition, in conjunction with my show at the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, reflects a more subtle understanding of these dynamics.”

“Cleave” also features large-format silk portraits which bring the courage, beauty, and grace of women who have received breast cancer-related mastectomy surgery to life creating a presence that honors those who have braved their scars in front of Charise Isis’s camera. Standing in front of her camera, each women is offered a transformative experience helping their self-acceptance and an opportunity to share their story.

“It is an honor to host the work of both artists,” said gallery owner Nicole Longnecker. “The work by Thedra and Charise is important to the women, the viewers, and our community as a whole. Not only are we exhibiting fantastic, beautiful art but we are also projecting a powerful message.”

THEDRA CULLAR-LEDFORD: Thedra Cullar-Ledford is a Houston-based artist whose work uses arranged collections of everyday objects, presented in some sort of container so that it makes a statement. It’s a mash-up of conceptualism, minimalism, storytelling and autobiography.

“Between 2010 and 2012, I did a large series of doll paintings. The project started as a way to process the deteriorating toys rescued from my mom’s attic into art so that they could be thrown away without guilt. Over the course of the effort, however, some of the pieces turned into portraits of people I know and others turned into social commentary dealing with issues around the ways American culture represents the ideal female.

In December of 2013, I was diagnosed with tit cancer. (I hate the word “breast. I’m not poultry.) The work I have created since helps me emotionally process and gets me out of bed.”

Not everybody going through breast cancer has the ability to express their fears, anger, and anxieties the way that Cullar-Ledford has been able to. She wants them to know that they are not alone in their journey and that a positive outcome is possible.

CHARISE ISIS: Charise Isis has been working in the field of photography for over fifteen years. Her work has been widely exhibited both nationally, and internationally including solo exhibits at galleries such as the Michael Mazzeo Gallery (NYC); The Griffin Museum of Photography (Winchester, MA); and The Center for Photography at Woodstock (Woodstock NY).

Her work has been featured in publications such as Photography Quarterly Magazine, NY, Profifoto Magazine, Germany, NY Arts Magazine and on the acclaimed international photography website, Zone Zero among many others.

Isis’ photographs have been included in numerous public and private collections including those of the Museum of Fine Arts, (Houston, TX); CPW’s Permanent Print Collection held on extended loan at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art (New Paltz, NY); and The Photographers Network Collection (Seigen, Germany).

Commercially, Isis has specialized in portrait photography, in particular her focus has been on women. Claiming an international clientele, Isis’ work challenges our cultures impossible standards of beauty, allowing women of all different ages, body types, ethnicities and in varying transitional phases of life to be able to express courage, strength, sensuality, depth, individual and unique beauty.

Pictured above: Charise Isis, “The Empress” Archival ink jet print on Habotai silk, 54 x 36”
Pictured below: Thedra Cullar-Ledford, “Closet Ruching” mixed media, photography, and collage, 96 x 114”

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/eye2nothingness (Thedra Cullar-Ledford)
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/isisimages