FLATFILEgalleries will inaugurate 2006 with the gallery’s first ever all-sculpture exhibition, SPHERE OF LIGHT, featuring the work of internationally known sculptor Bob Emser, and SUBLUCENT, featuring the work of Chicago sculptor Jason Peot. Emser’s wall mounted, suspended and standing pieces will be shown on the main floor of the gallery, while Peot’s work, which requires darker conditions, will be installed in the lower level. There will also be a project room photo-installation, HELICES (Propellers) by Alain Giraud from Marseilles, France.

Bob Emser has exhibited and undertaken commissions throughout the world, most recently in Norway, Italy and Australia. He served 2 years as Executive Director of Chicago’s International Sculpture exhibit, Pier Walk, before forming Modern Sculpture Services, a sculptor-run consulting, curatorial, and installation organization. From the beginning Emser ’s work has dealt with the internal structure and how that structure supported or became visible on the exterior. Emser ’s current body of work is derived from and is a reference to pioneering spirit of aviation and nautical history. The titles of the works give us a handle into this reference, which only stands as a metaphor for his life experiences.

Today Emser splits his time between his Chicago and Eureka studios, focusing his efforts on creating sculptures for public and private spaces, lecturing and consulting on contemporary issues in public sculpture. He is President of the Board of Chicago Sculpture International.

Jason Peot, who lives and works in Chicago, has shown extensively in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida. His work has been acquired for the permanent collections of the MCA, Elmhurst Art Museum, Coca Cola, DePaul University, and others. He has been reviewed in a variety of publications including Artnet.com, Mouth to Mouth, and Dialogue.

Peot’s work examines the relationship between sculpture and the environment in which it exists. He feels that his work is a mix of objects and installations, with emphasis on the physical characteristics of the created object. The light on the object, and the shadows it casts are all part of the physical space Peot considers to be the entire piece. Peot currently teaches sculpture and design at Harper College in addition to making his own work.

Both sculptors are members of Chicago Sculpture International as well as its parent organization, Sculpture Center International. Both are gallery artists with FLATFILE, as well.

Alain Giraud, began photographing scenes and objects in his native Marseilles in the late 70’s. He made his series Portraits des Bateaux (Portraits of Boats) and Helices (Propellers) around the shipyards that line the port of Marseilles, and Les Salines, which are images of inland salt spaces in the area, in addition to nudes and other classical photographs. It is the Helices that captured the eye of curator Susan Aurinko, however. Their power and majesty are transformed by Giraud’’s camera into sculptural objects that feel at home with the physical sculpture of Bob Emser and Jason Peot. Their luxuriously curved forms and strength, as well as the sheer beauty of Giraud’s large prints convinced Aurinko that they belonged with Emser and Peot’s three dimensional work. Giraud has shown throughout Europe and in New York City, and his work appears in many European collections.