Garth Amundson part of new exhibition on notions of identity, gender politics and domesticity

Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour
 will be part of Residue, an exhibition that includes recent mixed media works by four artists that challenge and interpret notions of identity, gender politics and domesticity.

The exhibition opened Sept. 1 and runs through Oct. 20 at the Kirkland Arts Center. An opening reception will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. An artist panel discussion facilitated by Gayle Clemans is slated to occur at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

A description of the exhibition from a press statement released by Amundson, a professor of art at Western Washington University:

In our highly charged, ever-changing political environment, narratives addressing the home often appear to be almost quaint. The universal idea of home--a retreat, a sanctuary, and respite from a fast-paced and often-hostile world outside--is something we all try to define & embrace. Identity, gender, and the expanded definition of 'family' further complicate notions surrounding home. Challenging, investigating, and interpreting domestic themes are at the very core of Residue.

This exhibition has provided Amundson and Gour with an opportunity to exhibit a new body of work titled "Mojacar Azul." This work was initiated while participating in a residency at Fundación Valparaíso in Southern Spain in July of this year. Amundson and Gour also are exhibiting a reconfigured installation of "Penetrating Cuts," which has never been shown in Washington.

Concentrating on work that addresses topics ranging from domestic motifs to immigration and identity politics, they continue to investigate the historic application and use of vintage photographs. For this exhibition, they have redesigned 10 large-scale digital panels using hundreds of vintage photographs found in thrift stores and antique shops as well as personal snapshots they've been collecting for the past 25 years. These photographs metaphorically become historical evidence of our own lost identity.

New versions of "HEAD(S)" and "Mr. & Mr." also are included in this exhibition.