By Gina McKlveen
Tucked between greenery and hanging from the glass windows of The Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse, Atticus Adams’ abstract sculptures are like cocoons waiting to birth something magical. “The Catching Sunbeams From The Porch Swing of Wisteria Castle” exhibition featuring Adams’ work is on display through October 26th.
Adams’ art captured the attention of the Frick Museums & Gardens after he shared his dream of exhibiting his artwork in a greenhouse atmosphere with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. The CEO of GPAC, Patrick Fisher, put Adams in touch with the Frick Museums & Gardens. “Atticus visited the Frick, and we visited his studio and [we] were utterly charmed by him and his work,” says Dawn R. Brean, Chief Curator & Director of Collections. “Atticus’ ethereal and nostalgic sculptures now hang from the windows and ceilings of our greenhouse and add a whimsical touch to the vibrant, flora-filled oasis. We love that our historic site continues to be a source of inspiration for artists working today.” Brean adds.
For his sculptures, Adams uses a variety of natural and industrial materials, including crystals, mesh, wire, and metals such as aluminum, copper, and steel. Describing his work, Atticus says, “I come from a tradition of using simple, easily available materials for creative expression. I like to think of my work as Neo-Appalachian folk art.”
Adams was raised in West Virginia, and much of his childhood there remains a part of the work he produces today as a Pittsburgh-based artist. He explores themes of childhood wonder and nostalgia through his choice of materials and artistic process, which are reminiscent of his childhood memories, such as spending hours on his grandmother’s porch swing, building forts out of quilt blankets, or watching a wisteria vine spill over the edges of a window sill in his grandmother’s home. Walking through the Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse, you feel as though you’re stepping into your grandmother’s garden again, full of surprising trinkets and knick-knacks.
For this particular display, Adams’ art is primarily associated with the Frick family. Brean explains, “Atticus created a site-specific sculpture that was inspired by our history, collections, and founder, Helen Clay Frick. Before creating the sculpture, Atticus and I reviewed Helen’s collections and spent time in her room to give him a sense of what she liked as a child. From that, he created a pink mesh sculpture featuring a bird’s nest inside of it, with the different sections of the nest representing the members of the Frick family.”
For Adams, representation through sculpture is tied to memory, places, and the meaning of home. Much like Helen Clay Frick, who also had an affinity for her childhood home, Adams’ message is this: “Though grander houses existed, Clayton was home. This piece seeks to honor that sentiment—home not as grandeur, but as the quiet keeper of one’s deepest affections.”
If you’re feeling homesick for a place or person, catch some sunbeams at The Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse and enjoy Adams’ airy, artistic sculptures amidst the array of plants.
GM
The Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:15 AM to 3:00 PM. Learn more about the artist by visiting: atticusadams.com
