Debra Baxter's 'Ascent' at Roq La Rue: Alabaster Busts, Crystal Hearts, and Long Covid Visions
Roq La Rue is currently hosting Debra Baxter's solo exhibition titled 'Ascent,' which will be open until October 3. This showcase features exquisite sculptures crafted from alabaster, quartz, garnet, and bronze. Although these pieces began five years ago, Baxter's battle with long Covid, which she contracted in January 2022, transformed her artistic approach. During her healing process, she experienced visions that redefined her understanding of physical and metaphysical space, which she considers a gift. The exhibition includes alabaster busts of women—historically a male-dominated form—and bronze hearts adorned with crystals. Works like 'Fade Into You' and 'The Day I Tried to Live' explore themes of consciousness and fragility. Other pieces include 'Ascent (Pamela),' 'Crack,' 'Spill,' 'We Love You,' and 'Anchor.'
Key facts
- Debra Baxter's solo exhibition 'Ascent' is on view at Roq La Rue through October 3.
- Baxter contracted Covid in January 2022, which progressed into long Covid, limiting her ability to work with heavy equipment.
- The sculptures in 'Ascent' were initiated five years ago, but her recovery period revealed a new direction.
- Materials used include alabaster, quartz, garnet, bronze, jade, steel, wood, and epoxy clay.
- The show features smaller-than-life-size alabaster busts of women, a form historically granted to men.
- 'Fade Into You' consists of a hinge, allowing the work to become 'open-hearted' or shut away its energy.
- Baxter cites Greek busts, Bernini, and her belief in the power and intuition of woman as influences.
- The gallery states Baxter began to embody the mystical concepts she had been researching.
Entities
Artists
- Debra Baxter
- Bernini
Institutions
- Roq La Rue
- Colossal
Locations
- Seattle
- United States