Armory Center for the Arts

Exhibition: “Steve Roden: In Between, a 20 Year Survey”
Curator: Howard N. Fox, former senior curatorial fellow of contemporary art, LACMA
Exhibition Dates: September 12 – January 9, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 11, 7 to 9 p.m.
Special Sound Performance by the Artist: Thursday, October 28, 7:30 p.m. FREE
Location: Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave. Pasadena, 91103

“Steve Roden: In Between”, is the first exhibition to bring together Steve Roden's art in all its  divergent forms and reveals his work as a homogenous, conceptually coherent practice,  through the inclusion of a core sampling of his art. Featured in the exhibition is selection of  early works that are precursors to the artists numerous later directions, as well as a new  group of works conceived and executed specially for the exhibition. The overall presentation is  rooted in a five-year series of paintings, sculptures, sound works, musical compositions,  text works, and video installations from 2004 through 2009 that, while formally divergent, are  generated by Roden's systemic operations on the same musical score. The exhibition reveals  he unity and continuity of intent within the exceptional diversity of Roden's artistic  pursuits.

Pasadena native Steve Roden is known in the United States as an abstract painter, sculptor,  installation artist, and performance artist whose permanent works employ a strong presence  of irregular geometries, a distinctive palette that ranges from somber tones to bright colors,   and segmented all-over compositions. His work has been shown in many solo exhibitions and  in group shows of cutting-edge abstraction. In Europe he is better known as a sound  artist, and his audio works – which often incorporate random sound and ambient noise – have  been performed in major festivals of avant-garde music and sound art. He also creates  installations, new media projects, video projections, and has participated in performance art.

On October 28 at 7:30 p.m. Steve Roden will create a live improvised sound performance,  using found objects and instruments, field recordings, old records, and other sound generating  materials. The concert is free and open to the public.

An illustrated catalogue featuring a comprehensive essay by curator Howard N. Fox and  selected writings by Steve Roden accompanies the exhibition. This exhibition is funded by a  grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance.

On view in the Susan and John Caldwell Gallery at the Armory is at 145 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Sunday, noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Armory members, students, and seniors are free. The Armory is easily accessible from the Gold Line Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. For information about Armory exhibitions and events, the public may call 626.792.5101 x122. or visit the Armory website at www.armoryarts.org.