Thy Kingdom Comes Apart Exhibition Show - Jermaine Ollivierre
Consider the penny. Our smallest currency is made from a remarkable material—copper. It is a metal that can withstand a lot of heat, and it is malleable. As copper is exposed to the elements, it creates its own protective barrier, first turning very dark brown, then green. This layer of oxidation keeps the copper safe from further damage, and allows it to be a remarkably resilient material for withstanding heavy weather. A self-protective shell that looks like damage.
After the smoke has cleared, what comes next? In a recent poem, Ollivierre words read like a lament, an indictment, and a memorial-
I didn't want you
to want me
to want this.
___
Jermaine Ollivierre is a Philadelphia artist. He studied at Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Delaware Community College. Ollivierre's work has been exhibited at Tyler School of Art, Delaware County Community College, Mural Arts Gallery, Asian Arts Initiative, City Hall, Creative Philadelphia Art Exhibition, Da Vinci Art Alliance and various SEPTA transit locations. He has worked as a studio assistant for several noteworthy Philadelphia artists, including Karyn Olivier and Destiny Palmer. Ollivierre will graduate with an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024.
This exhibition was curated by Mari Elaine Lamp for AUTOMAT Collective.
AUTOMAT will hold open gallery hours for Thy Kingdom Comes Apart on Saturdays from 12pm- 5pm at 1400 N American St, Philadelphia, PA. The exhibition will be on view through May 20, 2023. The opening reception will take place on April 13 from 6-9pm