Grace Transcends the Withered Root | Kya Granger
Welcome Gallery
Created in a time of personal hardship, Grace Transcends the Withered Root embraces experimentation within the photographic process. Kya Granger investigates the relationship between self-portraiture and nature to represent themes of identity, loss, and transformation. From stark black and white imagery featuring scarce or decaying plant life to vibrant compositions with blooming flowers and flourishing vegetation, the series reflects a transition from grief and emotional turmoil toward healing, renewal, and a restored sense of self.
BIO
Nora Gast is a sculptural glass artist currently based in Northeast Ohio. Her work is composed of domestic and sentimental objects recreated through various glass working processes. Reminiscent of her life growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, she is known for her use of bright colors and delicate shapes that offer softness to a robust medium. Gast has a fondness for niche glass-casting techniques and unexpected intersections of material. She transforms glass into new, contradictory forms such as clothing, ribbons, and crochet fabric. Originally a watercolor painter, she gravitated towards glass in her undergraduate studies as a multi-dimensional study of light and transparency. She received her Bachelor of Fine Art from Kent State University, graduating with a concentration in glass working. She continues to expand her expertise with the material and has participated in several juried shows across the Midwest.
STATEMENT
I Say Something About Her Every Time I Speak creates a moment of reflection in the face of great change. This installation holds nostalgia, memory, and identity together in relation to domestic objects. Objects, kept and collected over time, that I hold close as I move through life, reflect who I am and adorn the spaces I inhabit in my utmost privacy. This collection of work highlights the importance of these keepsakes and thanks them. It is an open door to what has been passed down; the socks my father left behind, the backyard swing set lost to time, and the plastic stars on the ceiling of my bedroom.
Expressing gratitude for what is outgrown confronts the loss of childhood, a grief that is inevitable as we move from adolescence towards adulthood. In times of uncertainty, the objects around us provide comfort, allow us to access memories, and are a reminder of who we are. Recreating these objects connects me to younger versions of myself, nested in my present being. Bright colors and familiar forms give a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality. These objects are contextualized to represent how they exist in my memory. Here I find a path forward, without the need to knock on wood.
I say something about her every time I speak.
Did you know?
Most of the artwork on display at Summit Artspace is for sale.
Click on the artwork images for pricing and more information about each piece.
If you would like to purchase any art, please visit a staff member or volunteer at the front desk, or email anna@summitartspace.org.
Special thanks to Bradley Hart, Summit Artspace resident artist, for photography of virtual exhibitions!
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