Only at Western

An exhibition of art by artist Ashley Hope Carlisle is scheduled March 5-April 23 in the Western Wyoming Community College Art Gallery. The show is titled “Protected Exposure,” it is free and open to the public.

WWCC Professor of Art Florence McEwin stated,” the lyrical nature of the work of Ashley Hope Carlisle is for the viewer, an intimate discovery of form and concept which plays out in multi media. Her work is contemplative and thought provoking”.   

Hope Carlisle received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in three-dimensional design from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Masters of Fine Arts in sculpture from The University of Georgia. She is currently a professor of sculpture at the University of Wyoming, where in 2008 she was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Extraordinary Merit Award for Teaching.

Describing her work for her artist’s statement, Hope Carlisle explains that protection can be defined as the supervision or support of one that is smaller and weaker, and/or to cover or shield from injury or destruction.  All creatures use protective devices on a daily basis, building structures for shelter to work or live within, or emotionally reacting when faced with same species confrontation.  Protection then becomes a defense mechanism, an idea that everything and everyone harbors in order to make life more enjoyable, and safe. 

Hope Carlisle is inspired by, “thinking of the possibilities of what might happen regardless of our protective devices, realizing that injury and destruction is a fact of our existence.”

In her work, Carlisle strives to glorify the illusion or false comfort of protection.  “I utilize formal concerns, the sensitivity of touch, and luscious materiality to produce works that would take both roles as visual guidance when confronting the uncomfortable, as well as reassurance when dealing with the inevitable.  An optimistic role is taken with the visual conversation I build, so regardless of physical pain, ego stampedes, and moments of smallness, I line my ideas with silver to exhilarate and infuse the viewer with hope.”