For the time being is a collection of recent sculptural work about time, distance and relationships and the struggle to maintain them all during the course of a lifetime. Alternative materials such as chocolate candy and yarn are incorporated into each work to represent the specific events and personalities that are depicted in this exhibition.
Detail of the Silent Lure for Attention, 2500+ m&ms recreate an image of the artist's grandfather.
Khara received her M.F.A. in Sculpture from University of Alabama in 2003, and is an Assistant Professor of Art at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL where she has taught since 2004. She has an extensive exhibition record including solo and invitational exhibitions and has received numerous awards and recognition for her work including being named as an Emerging Artist of Alabama in 2003 by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Koffel describes her work as evolving from visual stimuli, "objects that I see which drag me into my own mind, reminding me of a time, place or person. These stimuli, as specific as a photo of a matronly woman or as obscure as a leaf of lettuce, force themselves into a conversation with my thoughts in an attempt to not only make an aesthetically intriguing piece, but a connection with the viewer as a stimulator of thoughts and memories. This becomes quite the dance, finding symbols that both reflect my personal story yet remain vague enough to apply to a more collective past.
detail of "the unforeseen remnants of a life well-lived" over 300 plastic bags filled with memories from friends,family and acquaintances
Through my work I find that I am seeking a more intimate relationship with myself as well, and that it is becoming more difficult to separate my existence from the pieces that I create. Each individual object holds some portion of my memory and becomes a story whose title lies on the identification card. In this way the titles also posses a larger significance because they are often the only words spoken between the viewer and myself.
Creating sculpture has not only given me an opportunity to allow my hands and my mind to find a union but also allowed me to look at my present and my past as inspiration."
The exhibition will open with a reception and gallery talk May 29 at 7pm. Admission is free. More of Khara's work can be seen at http://www.kharakoffel.com/
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