I visited Gelah Penn's studio today with my friend and fellow curator Alta Buden from Harbor/Regina Rex. Gelah is making works on "paper" (it's actually Yupo!) that incorporate folds, graphite, and knotted fishing line. Fishing line is a material she has worked with consistently, and it was interesting to see the progression from her older works to what she is making now. She incorporates the line into her new works by threading it through the Yupo and knotting it, leaving some longer pieces springing out from the paper.
Gelah's installation piece uses a full corner of the studio. It incorporates mosquito netting in black, white, grey, and red, as well as painted plastic sheeting. She also showed us the beautiful artist book she worked on with poet Claude Minière for a project by publisher Gervais Jassaud/Collectif Génération. While there aren't pictures here, check out her website for a peek.
Gelah lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
