Waterville Creates and Ticonic Gallery + Studios will present the new exhibition “At Play: Works by Tom Jessen,” in conjunction with the Colby Center for the Arts and Humanities’ annual theme of “PLAY.”
The show is the first interactive exhibition at the gallery. Jessen’s work invites visitors to become active participants in the creative process, embracing a playful spirit to explore how the act of making art — like the act of playing — incorporates and depends on elements of chance, mystery, and unknown outcomes. Through a series of public events grounded in structured gameplay, participants will dismantle, construct, and reconstruct pieces while immersing themselves in a group art-making process.
“I see parallels between the systematic approach one uses in making art works and the rules one follows while playing games,” Jessen said, according to a news release from the gallery. “This observation has motivated me to employ chance operations in determining the final form of each work, often through the act of playing a game. Some pieces are designed to allow others to take the lead in constructing the forms by playing the game.”
Whether experienced or aspiring artists, or artists-at-heart, all are invited to bring their creativity, curiosity, and sense of play to shape works in this exhibition; no prior experience is necessary. By inviting people into the gallery to take a central role in the art-making process, Jessen hopes to remove the perception of art as an exclusive activity solely for individuals with a particular background or education.
“By allowing others to construct the work, my hope is to demystify the art-making process,” Jessen said. “These works can be dismantled and reassembled continuously. Using chance operations ensures the work remains fluid, allowing each form to always be different. This process also allows me to minimize my own agency, stay present, and keep the experience mysterious.”
An opening reception is set for 4-7 .p.m. Friday, May 24, at Ticonic Gallery, the exhibit will then be on display in the gallery through Aug. 26.
Jessen will enhance the “At Play” experience by adding a new interactive element to the exhibition during each of the three subsequent First Friday events in downtown Waterville on June 7, July 5, and Aug. 2.
Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.daily, except Tuesdays and federal holidays.
For more information visit watervillecreates.org.