"Random Movements" wood constructions by Ricardo Pascale opens July 8th.

Shelter Island, NY, June 20, 2011 - Boltax Gallery, in collaboration with Galeria Del Paseo, is pleased to present 'Random Movements' that brings prominent Uruguayan sculptor Ricardo Pascale to New York for his first North American exhibition. The artist's reception is Saturday, July 9 from 6 to 8 pm. The exhibition runs through August 1.

A notable artist whose large-scale sculptures can be found in public and private spaces throughout the world, Pascale's new, more diminutive, wall-hung wood constructions resonate with mathematical precision. Vertical pieces, like 'Random Walk' or 'Random Movement V' feature intricately structured surfaces that appear in constant flux. The modulating rhythm of shadow and light, of hard lines and undulating waves recalls pulsating Seismic patterns and ever-changing cityscapes.

For the series featuring 'Looking In The Crowd' and 'Low Crowd' the artist reinvents the very essence of drawing, translating low-resolution computer images into exacting three-dimensional constructions. Composed of 25,000 hand carved 'toothpick pixels' of varying heights, these bit-mapped wood sculptures transform tiny factions into a larger whole. Here he uses wood as both surface and medium, carving meandering lines that hint at calligraphy on paper and vibrate with the intensity of a tightly packed crowd.

Galileo observed "mathematics is the language with which God wrote the Universe" and Pascale's singular organic process and language creates pieces of arithmetical beauty that echo the deep affinity between mathematics, poetry and philosophy. As former Finance Minster of Uruguay, with a PhD in applied economics, one senses his profound consciousness of this spiritual equation.

In 'Unquoted' the artist has created 31 characters that are instantly recognizable as letters, yet wholly distinct from modern alphabets. To Pascale, language represents knowledge; it can also represent misunderstanding. The sinuous curving phrase creates tension, leaving the viewer to imagine the meaning. 'Unquoted' is from the Italian "E gia, adesso sa dov è" (and now, you know where it is) whispered to Pope Paul VI's successor, who became Pope John Paul I. "There is a pronounced lack of contemporary leaders bringing hope to people today," says Pascale. "This is my way of calling attention to the emergence of a new leader, one who brought hope to his people. Obama understood the significance. It's not religious message, it's about hope."

Pascale lives and works in Montevideo, Uruguay. He represented Uruguay at the Venice Biennale in 1999 and has exhibited extensively throughout South America and Europe.

exhibition dates: july 8 - august 1
gallery hours: thursday - monday 11am - 6pm