River Press, a new art studio and shop in Riverwest, opened in early August, and now its miniature art gallery will debut its inaugural exhibition.
“Life Should Make More Sense Than This”, a solo show by Milwaukee artist Sarah Jane Sutterfield, opens Friday, Aug. 29 with a reception from 5-9 p.m. and runs through November.
Sutterfield’s show will feature a recent collection of metallic monotypes along with three sculptural pieces that give physical shape to love, grief and transformation.
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Owner and local printmaker Mya Giuliani opened River Press to provide a brick-and-mortar space for local artists to share their work with the community and give working-class artists proper representation they feel is often lacking in Milwaukee.
“I thought it was really important to showcase the incredible skill and work that they’re doing instead of importing something from somewhere else,” Giuliani says. “[These are] artists who have day jobs and who are producing work to sell, in addition to a fine art gallery breadth of work.”
Giuliani says they felt confident in selecting Sutterfield for River Press Micro Gallery’s first exhibition and that she could help set a tone for the gallery space moving forward.
“I also felt like Sarah was consistent with our mission because [she] is a really compelling emerging artist from Milwaukee and her work is really present, current and something new,” Giuliani says.
Sutterfield’s work in the exhibition captures the emotion of loss and transformation on a personal as well as communal level.
“The title itself really refers to the times in which we are collectively living in: politically, socially, economically, things are really hard,” Sutterfield says. “That title is kind of meant in a double meaning – one that’s very personal to me, and then in a greater sense for the community.”
A portion of the exhibit will feature 25 out of 100 monotypes Sutterfield made during a monthlong surge of creativity that she says reignited her artistic drive.
“I had this output of creation,” Sutterfield says. “In the creation of that work I was like, ‘Oh, I think this deserves to be seen in the community’ … and I’m so thankful for Mya’s friendship and their faith in me to bring this show to the Riverwest community.”
Sutterfield treasures one sculptural piece in particular: a microwave plate adorned with cardboard matchsticks from an intimacy game that holds personal meaning for her.
“I think everyone has been through some type of hurt and loss and have come out the other side,” Sutterfield says. “I hope this exhibition helps people see how they can do that, not only individually, but also in a community way.”
River Press will feature solo art shows in its Micro Gallery on a rotating three-month basis, alongside the studio’s frequent workshops and an in-store collection of prints, stickers and original artworks. The space also serves as the headquarters for The Wizard’s Print Snacks, a series of local art vending machines.
