Joel Kyack– Old Sailors Never Die

For the sculptures at Joel Kyack’s show at François Ghebaly Gallery, the press release consists of multiple choice questions on the theme of being stranded at sea like, “If you had to die at sea, on which sea would it be?” Interspersed among these are other questions, perhaps getting to more of the reasoning behind the work, like:

3. Film sets are, to varying degrees, “built to camera” – a process where only the elements of the set that will appear in the frame of the camera will be built. For what could this be a metaphor?

(a) some of life

(b) most of life

(c) all of life

and:

8. When you see a sculpture you like you respond by:

(a) wanting to remember it

(b) wanting to buy it

(c) wanting to dismiss it

The theme of being stranded or lost at sea is common in movies and television. It remains unclear whether these sculptures are aiming just to entertain or are attempting to grapple with larger issues.

Perhaps the quote at the bottom of the press release is the most telling:

“High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water.”

― Mark Twain, Letter to William Dean Howells, 15 February 1887

If you go to see this show make sure to check out the inaugural group exhibition at Fahrenheit Gallery located in the same building.