FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Keary Rosen: M-Class Planet
March 28 – April 25, 2008

Reception: March 28, 6-9 PM
Press Preview: March 21, 4-6 PM

PHILADELPHIA, PA (December 15, 2007) – Jenny Jaskey is pleased to present M-Class Planet, a solo exhibition of new work by Keary Rosen. The exhibition will be on view from March 28 – April 25, 2008 with an opening reception on Friday, March 28 from 6-9 PM. A press preview will be held on Friday, March 21 from 4-6 PM.

In the Star Trek lexicon, “M-Class Planet” refers to a planetary atmosphere that is capable of supporting human life. In M-Class Planet, Rosen examines many of the forms that are loosely related to science-fiction television shows, movies and novels. His works draw upon imagined technology from the past. Rosen’s use of these forms (that were once futuristic, forward looking and utopian) is wistful and betrays a slightly sardonic nostalgia.

A hallmark of Rosen’s work is that his sculptures are kinetic. He uses simple and in some cases subtle mechanical movement to convey the illusion of life and autonomous control. His work “Two Man Jug Band” contains a life-sized automaton made in the artist’s likeness. It is joined by a robot whose body and face are constructed out of parts scavenged from a 1937 Electrolux vacuum cleaner. The robot belts out a pathetic melody on a moonshine jug.

In another piece, the viewer interacts with a video station whose design is an amalgamation of Brancusi’s Endless Column and Star Trek’s Starship information console. The videos are composed of stream of consciousness writing read by Rosen and are set to imagery created by filmmaker Kelly Oliver. A tethered deco-style Mars Rover rounds out the sculptural work in the exhibition. Rosen also includes a series of meticulous stencil drawings that depict the artist interacting with sci-fi pop culture imagery.

Keary Rosen is an artist living and working in New Jersey. His videos have been included in numerous film festivals including: The New York Underground Film Festival, The Brooklyn Rooftop Film Festival and The Chicago Underground Film Festival and can be seen on the Independent Film Channel’s website. He has executed performance works at sites in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York including at the Whitney Museum of American Art. He received his BFA from The Maine College of Art and his MFA from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. This is his first solo exhibition in Philadelphia.

Jenny Jaskey (Tower Gallery) exhibits work by emerging and mid-career artists in a variety of media, including site-specific installation, sculpture, painting, photography, new media, and works on paper. The gallery opened in December 2006. For more information about the exhibition, please visit www.jennyjaskey.com or e-mail info@jennyjaskey.com. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday, 11-6 pm and Saturday 11-4 pm.

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