Blue of a Thousand Years

Riley will be presenting a series of new works that reflect on the transformative properties of water.  Using paper and a dye bath of natural indigo, Riley is seeking to realize the dual nature of water as a constructive and destructive force by finding a point of balance between these forces.  The paper, as a result of its interaction with water, becomes a memory, enriched by the calming blue depths of natural indigo.

This series of works stems from Riley’s recent work in textiles, in which he has methodically deconstructed blue jeans inherited from his father.  Working with inherited clothing has brought his attention to how memory is preserved and communicated through material and we as humans embed our own personal narratives into objects.

Sean Riley lives in Providence, RI and works form a studio at the Hope Artist Village in Pawtucket, RI.  He has just been awarded a 2017 Fellowship in Crafts for his work in deconstructed denim from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and this past spring he was a resident at The Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans, LA.  Riley is a new and enthusiastic yoga student at Jala Yoga & Arts. 

curated by Bristol Maryott and Dutzi King