"Pale Memory" by Marion Held

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Gallery at Hillside Square presents Being Held, a captivating exhibition featuring the artistry of Marion Held, from February 8 through August 16, 2024. This unique exhibit will enthrall art enthusiasts with its thought-provoking narrative and intriguing juxtaposition of disparate materials.

Being Held delves into the innovative world of Marion Held’s artistic vision, where a diverse array of materials, both natural and man-made, converge to tell a singular story. Held’s distinctive approach involves casting, molding, printing, sewing, drawing, and repurposing materials, culminating in a seamless fusion that evokes a sense of novelty through the harmonious blending of unrelated objects.

In one of her signature pieces, “Pale Memory,” Held intertwines an antique clothes wringer with a length of fabric adorned with enigmatic images. The artwork evokes a nostalgic ambiance, prompting contemplation on bygone eras, women’s work, and the passage of time. By leaving room for individual interpretation, viewers are invited to engage and craft their narratives within the art’s compelling tapestry.

A pivotal focus of Marion Held’s oeuvre lies in exploring the facets of the human condition, oscillating between representation, abstraction, and suggestion. Her ongoing “Dress Project” captivates attention with freely suspended translucent fabrics that sway delicately, accentuating surface drawings. The interplay of light through these materials imbues the garments with an ephemeral quality, symbolizing human existence’s enduring yet fragile nature.

“I aim to provoke curiosity and evoke emotions by capturing a wide spectrum of human feelings, histories, and with occasional humor,” expressed Marion Held. “My fascination with the unexpected, the enigmatic, drives me to create art that surprises, captivates, and resonates deeply with the viewer.”

Marion Held’s career spans exhibitions in museums and galleries globally, including showcases at Gallery H20 in Kyoto, Japan, the IFAN museum in Dakar, Senegal, and site-specific works in Israel and Poland, among others. Her work has garnered critical acclaim, with reviews featured in publications such as The New York Times, Newark Star Ledger, and Sculpture.

Acknowledged for her contributions to the art world, Held has been honored with two NJ State Council on the Arts Fellowships in Sculpture, the Mid Atlantic Arts Creative Fellows Award, and multiple grants from the Dodge Foundation. Her commitment to fostering art extends to teaching, where she has imparted her expertise at esteemed institutions like the Montclair Art Museum and the Montclair Kimberly Academy.

There will be an Opening Reception on Thursday, February 8th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

​​​​​​​The Gallery at Hillside Square is open Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 7:00pm.  Hillside Square is located at 8 Hillside Avenue, Montclair, NJ. Originally the First Church of Christ, Scientist church, the property was converted into a Silver LEED-certified professional office building and provides a community art gallery space. Hillside Square received the 2013 NJ Smart Growth Award for Creative Adaptive Re-Use, the 2012 Downtown NJ Excellence Gold Award for Built Projects, and the Montclair Historic Preservation Award for Excellence in Adaptive Re-Use.