MASZKIEWICZ WOOLSEY | ZAPPAS Y ‘M P L N T at Ochi Projects

On view: November 15–December 21, 2019

At Ochi Projects in Mid-City, Karolina Maszkiewicz’s sculptural Woolsey series begins with burnt wood pieces she salvaged from the recent Woolsey Fire in Malibu. Each piece then undergoes sanding and staining before becoming incorporated into idiosyncratic mobiles that seem to echo a fire’s lyric movements. Paired with these in this two-person show are John Zappas’ Y ‘M P L N T works, a series of oil stick drawings on table tops and panels that were sourced from Ikea’s “As-Is” section. Zappas’ mark making is dynamically abstract, evoking nature in-as-much as a frenetic energy felt by the body. The edges of the faux marble or pine panels are sanded down to reveal the cheap particle board within, calling attention to the prevalence of fast and cheap materials. Together, both artists’ active linework amidst themes of fire and mass production point to humanity’s resilience amidst exterior forces, whether natural or manufactured.