RISD Craft Spring 2022
Article from the New Haven Independent Review
By Brian Slattery
12/5/23
Meanwhile, Andree Brown has brought the outside in, turning another room on ECOCA’s second floor into a small forest. “Brown’s sculptures are organic, abstract, and influenced by forms she finds outside,” an accompanying note states. “Brown is playful with form and scale, taking liberties with both. Brown’s inspiration came from leaves she foraged in the woods of Durham, CT and has defined their character and given them voice.… Brown uses her sculptures as
a means to connect with the natural world and learn how trees communicate with each other and us.”
In a way dovetailing with Grimes, Brown creates plantlike forms that in their shape and size might seem like they belong on another planet. But their scale is inviting too; they let the viewer come up close and easily see detail. In that way, they are perhaps training people for a walk in the woods not far from their own doors, training them to not just follow a trail, but to stop and linger, get up close to whatever facet of riotous life might catch their eye — even in December. For all three artists, there’s movement everywhere, if you know how to look.