C5 Studios presents Mattie-le Fox and Topah Spoonhunter: From The Ridgeline
Exhibition dates: May 16 - July 5, 2025
Reception on Friday, May 16th 2025, 5.30pm - 7.30pm
C5 Studios is proud to present From The Ridgeline, a show of artwork by Owen’s Valley-based artists Mattie-le Fox and Topah Spoonhunter.
The show opens to the public on Friday, May 16, 2025 at C5 Studios Community Arts Center with a reception with the artists from 5.30pm - 7.30pm. All are welcome!
In an explosion of form and color, Fox and Spoonhunter each share artwork that provide glimpses of insight into the practices, tools and perspectives they explore and honor through their work. From the personal to the cultural, the practices we as humans choose to engage in can provide us with a sense of structure and support, offering a thread of consistency amidst the chaos of a constantly changing and shifting world.
In “Existence is a Prism”, Fox’s small, square canvases are at once understood as abstract, but with a closer look each square contained reflects a subtle but clear variation in mood and perspective the artist found herself in at the time of their creation. She describes the work as “born from the desire to make art in spite of; in spite of a very busy life, in spite of work, of motherhood, of obligations and expectations”, recognizing that as our lives progress, our access to the time and opportunity to create changes, and often becomes more limited. “I wondered, if I could put a little effort in everyday, a small practice, could that turn into something much bigger? I decided to make a color a day, every day, for a year.” Through these beautiful and captivating artworks, Fox models an approach to art-making that honors the process of creating through the cultivation of a daily practice, one day at a time.
Spoonhunter’s work echoes the recognition that art and design are powerful tools, reflecting that both “can be used to shift perspectives, change minds, and open hearts.” In a fascinating dialogue between the metaphorical and the literal, Spoonhunter sometimes chooses to use tools as objects upon which to apply painted designs and motifs. He shares that his work is influenced by many things, but one of his greatest sources of inspiration has been his culture. Spoonhunter holds the belief that tribal cultures have much to offer the world and this is often reflected in his work.