The sign at the front side at Carroll Gallery in Woldenberg Art Center says EXTN in bold, black font. Right below it is a statement by the artist, Jer’Lisa Devezin.
“I did not make this work in search of a resolution. Instead, the work led me to questions.”
Devezin, a professor at Tulane University teaching sculpture, has always had an interest in art that balances identity with abstraction.
“Conversations on form, abstraction and representation are centered in my work as I am working through concepts based on material investigations and play,” her statement continues.
Devezin plays with texture in her work. One of the most striking images, “Bulge,” is a dense rope of brown, curly hair against a stark black background. The contrast of dark colors on top of each other creates layered intensity. A similar untitled image showcases matted black fur with curls and faint streaks of red and blue.
The texture appears to be overflowing against the canvas, almost as if the art is trying to break out of the very same foundations that built it. The hair and fur create a contrast between human and animal. The human hair’s dark tangles are read as wild, while the color-streaked fur conveys a playfulness.
Most of the work in the exhibit consists of sharp sculptural structures. Despite the differences in form, they share the same balance of menace and gentleness. An uneven tower of large, black paper clips seems to be teetering over, with the ends jutting out. A vertical row of three gray shell sculptures features bumpy, lined centers with openings resembling anxious, grimacing mouths.
Glyph #2 is a series of dark-green, tooth-like shapes. Nearly all have a match facing each other and coming together, with only a few on the sidelines facing away from the larger piece. Subtle depictions of texture throughout are reminiscent of wood or jewelry.
The use of dark colors in the plain white walls of the gallery allows for spatial and visual contrast. The overall atmosphere in the exhibit is one of restraint rather than spectacle. Each sculpture encourages the viewer to reflect on subjective meaning, especially with the stylistic decision to give some pieces titles and not others.
While there is visual cohesion in her work, Devezin resists trying to lead the audience toward a specific interpretation of her work. With more emphasis on process over resolution, her art invites intrigue and encourages viewers to sit with their uncertainty rather than find a definitive meaning.