University Art Gallery Specialist and Adjunct Faculty, Garet Zook, hosted his first solo exhibition at the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery. Initially halted by the pandemic, the exhibition came to fruition over summer 2023, featuring a opening reception and ending with an artist talk.

From the Miossi Gallery:

Once More, With Feeling

The Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery is pleased to present a captivating exhibition, showcasing the remarkable sculptures of Garet Zook. Through their artistry, Zook explores the essence of abandoned and forgotten objects, uncovering hidden treasures that resonate with profound meaning. From the intriguing textures of resin castings, molded foam, and natural stone, each carefully chosen element tells a unique story. With a keen eye for discovery and a passion for artistic exploration, Zook's sculptures invite us to delve into a world where forgotten relics are imbued with new life and evoke a sense of profound connection. Join us in experiencing the captivating narratives woven by Garet Zook's sculptures at the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery.

Artist Statement:

We are indentured servants to the objects that define us. Unable to shed these apparatuses, they feed on our un-willingness to part, to forget, and ultimately to surrender to the grip of time. I want to objectively dissect the burden of material that surrounds me, a silent imprisonment by my own hand. 

In my most recent work I cast my own archeological digs.  Filling a mold with the many things I have had for so long that are not worth selling but too precious to throw away. Colored liquid expanding foam or resin is poured into the mold in multiple stages to create a block to carve from.  I expose the form within, often revealing bits of the encapsulated treasures inside, inventing a newfangled confabulation. 

Every found object I use is handsome, whether it’s because of the form, the texture, or the color.  I collect these objects and do my best to put on display their finest aspects in a concentrated way.  I explore and take from all that is abandoned and forgotten, yet rich with clues to a past that seems both romantic and harsh, whether it’s from the shine on a piece of metal caused from many years of handling to the charred surface of a piece of Manzanita wood that has been through a forest fire.  Nothing chosen is unintentional, much is left to chance and discovery is my paramour.

Bio:

Garet Zook was born 1982 in Ventura, CA.  He lives and works in San Luis Obispo, CA.  Zook received his MFA in sculpture from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2011 and his BFA from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo in 2006.  His sculptures are made from a wide variety of materials that most often include found objects along with fabricated steel, cast resin and foam.