Art work titled Pentimento 28, created by visual artist Andrew Cornell Robinson. The image shows a ceramic oval form that is slightly inflated like a full belly, and the white surface is covered in prints and drawings in a pale blue. Next to this is another halftone print in black on white paper which is mounted on tin, and crumpled so that the portrait depicted is abstracted, or obscured.

Grant and Residency at Peters Valley School of Craft

posted in Exhibitions

Grant and Residency at Peters Valley School of Craft

by

For Immediate Release

Confabulation Fantabulosa No. 4 (Oranges are not the only fruit) Glazed porcelain, with underglaze silkscreen print decal transfer, 16 x 16 x 3 inches, Glazed porcelain, with underglaze silkscreen print decal transfer, 16 x 16 x 3 inches

Layton, NJ – Visual artist Andrew Cornell Robinson has been awarded a grant and artist residency at Peters Valley School of Craft, a leading center of craft excellence in the United States. Situated in the serene woodlands near the Delaware Water Gap in rural New Jersey, Peters Valley is recognized globally for fostering creativity and innovation in the crafts.

During his residency, Robinson will embark on a new project titled Confabulations + Fantabulosas. This project seeks to weave together historical revisions and queer experiences, creating sculptural forms using portraits of monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula as a stand in for the marginalized “other”. By employing techniques such as silkscreen printed underglaze decals and sgraffito, Robinson’s work will explore and celebrate the queer experience, drawing parallels between these metaphorical monsters and the societal perceptions of the LGBTQ+ community, to which he proudly belongs.

Robinson’s fascination with monsters traces back to his youth, where he found poignant meaning in their depiction as misunderstood and marginal figures showcased in his home town movie theater’s Saturday afternoon matinees that he used to sneak into as a kid with his brothers, watching a slew of horror movies from Nosferatu, and Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, to Exorcist, Jaws, and Friday the 13th, etc. His project at Peters Valley aims to challenge and adapt these narratives, using the monsters as metaphors for the beauty and complexity of the queer identity. “Some of us can’t help but show our true selves; even the monsters can’t hide,” says Robinson, who sees this residency as an opportunity to further his exploration of these themes on a larger scale.

Peters Valley School of Craft, nestled amid the fields, forests, and streams of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, has been a beacon for the craft community since its establishment. The school is housed in the historic village of Bevans, offering artists like Robinson an inspiring retreat where creativity is nurtured through intensive workshops and a supportive community atmosphere.

Robinson’s residency is not just an artistic endeavor but a continuation of Peters Valley’s mission to enrich lives through the learning, appreciation, and practice of fine crafts. “Coming together to make things makes us better artists,” reflects Robinson, excited about the collaborative and immersive environment that Peters Valley offers.

The work Robinson develops during his residency will contribute to his broader goals of elevating marginalized voices and fostering inclusivity through his craft.

For more information about Andrew Cornell Robinson’s work and his residency at Peters Valley, please visit www.AndrewCornellRobinson.com or contact www.petersvalley.org