At the Hop: A Virtual Gallery Spotlight on Aspect/Ratio
In response to temporary business closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak, DFA presents “At the Hop,” a series highlighting local art galleries we miss hopping to. Our aim is to keep a spotlight on our community and stay engaged with one another. Each feature includes an overview of the gallery’s current show and some remote insights from the gallerists. Answers may be lightly edited for length and clarity.
Featuring: Aspect/Ratio
Location: West Town, Chicago, IL
Aspect/Ratio is a commercial gallery that opened in 2012 and represents an international group of emerging and established contemporary artists. The gallery’s most recent show, This Scrim Became One, paired work by Chicago-based artists Nick Albertson and Matthew Girson. In the exhibition, both artists referenced Modernist painting. Albertson’s photographs make use of mass-produced everyday objects to reference non-representational forms associated with Modernist painting while Girson’s monochrome paintings are sourced from photo-based images taken from exhibitions of abstract painting. The full press release for the exhibition and additional images can be viewed here.
Not quite two years ago, Aspect/Ratio moved to a bigger storefront space on Ashland Ave in West Town. How has the gallery's program evolved since its inception in 2012?
Moving was monumental to our gallery. It increased visibility for our artists, shed light (pun intended) on our shows, and allowed for more people to come in that had not been in our space before. One of the only things that changed was that we were formerly a video gallery that also showed photography and performance. Now, we showcase quite a bit more but still hold a soft focus on time-based media.
How are you keeping connected with the art community during this time of physical distancing?
Updates, texts, and sharing laughs...there's not much else, unfortunately.
What local lunch spots are you going to miss the most while we are away from our posts?
For me, I cook and bring food into the gallery, however Market Select is a great shop to pick up some snacks (or wine). There is also a terrific juice place Healthy and Simple Juices that has fabulous tamales as well as fresh and healthy juices.
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