ODE TO COMMON THINGS
BARCELONA ROOM
May 22, 2025 to July 18, 2025
Melissa Weber’s ODE TO COMMON THINGS invites viewers to reimagine the ordinary, by drawing inspiration from everyday objects. Weber references Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's collection of poems by the same title, in which he expressed profound affection and admiration for everyday objects, highlighting their intrinsic value and the roles they play in our lives.
Weber's sculptures transform familiar objects, such as brick remnants, rocks and cardboard packing materials into subjects of reflection, emphasizing their intrinsic beauty and the narratives they embody. Working primarily with clay, Weber explores the transformation from wet mass to fragile form through fire, creating ceramic arrangements, visual systems and topographies that engage with history and spatial relationships.
Situated within the undercroft of the historic former Church of the Epiphany, an 1885 Richardson Romanesque church, now a vibrant cultural hub—the exhibition integrates the building’s stone walls and wood beams as essential components of the artistic narrative. In this context, space itself becomes an object, engaging in dialogue with the sculptures and challenging traditional distinctions between subject and environment. In this setting, Weber explores how themes of transformation and the passage of time mirror the metamorphosis of raw materials into refined forms, encouraging deeper contemplation of material transformation and the ephemeral nature of perception. By elevating the mundane to the revered, ODE TO COMMON THINGS encourages a renewed appreciation for the simple elements of daily life, fostering a deeper connection between the observer and the often-overlooked details that shape our existence.
RSVP for the opening reception on Thursday, May 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the link below:
Click HERE for more information on gallery hours and private appointments.
ODE TO COMMON THINGS
BARCELONA ROOM
May 22, 2025 to July 18, 2025
Melissa Weber’s ODE TO COMMON THINGS invites viewers to reimagine the ordinary, by drawing inspiration from everyday objects. Weber references Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's collection of poems by the same title, in which he expressed profound affection and admiration for everyday objects, highlighting their intrinsic value and the roles they play in our lives.
Weber's sculptures transform familiar objects, such as brick remnants, rocks and cardboard packing materials into subjects of reflection, emphasizing their intrinsic beauty and the narratives they embody. Working primarily with clay, Weber explores the transformation from wet mass to fragile form through fire, creating ceramic arrangements, visual systems and topographies that engage with history and spatial relationships.
Situated within the undercroft of the historic former Church of the Epiphany, an 1885 Richardson Romanesque church, now a vibrant cultural hub—the exhibition integrates the building’s stone walls and wood beams as essential components of the artistic narrative. In this context, space itself becomes an object, engaging in dialogue with the sculptures and challenging traditional distinctions between subject and environment. In this setting, Weber explores how themes of transformation and the passage of time mirror the metamorphosis of raw materials into refined forms, encouraging deeper contemplation of material transformation and the ephemeral nature of perception. By elevating the mundane to the revered, ODE TO COMMON THINGS encourages a renewed appreciation for the simple elements of daily life, fostering a deeper connection between the observer and the often-overlooked details that shape our existence.
RSVP for the opening reception on Thursday, May 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the link below:
Click HERE for more information on gallery hours and private appointments.
Melissa Weber is a ceramic sculptor whose practice is intuitive, and process driven, rooted in exploration, play and experimentation. Influenced by architectural remnants, everyday materials, and natural forms, she re-frames familiar objects as ceramic arrangements, visual systems and topographies that engage with history and unexpected spatial relationships. Originally from New York City, Melissa lives in Chicago and holds an MFA in Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, an AAS in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design, and a BA in English Literature from Duke University. She taught ceramics at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Indiana Northwest, and the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago.
Melissa Weber is a ceramic sculptor whose practice is intuitive, and process driven, rooted in exploration, play and experimentation. Influenced by architectural remnants, everyday materials, and natural forms, she re-frames familiar objects as ceramic arrangements, visual systems and topographies that engage with history and unexpected spatial relationships. Originally from New York City, Melissa lives in Chicago and holds an MFA in Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, an AAS in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design, and a BA in English Literature from Duke University. She taught ceramics at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Indiana Northwest, and the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago.
