Untitled (As Before 1) & Untitled (As Before 2)
By Joe Shetler | 2021, Acrylic and silverpoint on panel
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About this Artist:
Joseph Shetler was born in Goshen, Indiana, and currently lives in Washington, DC. He is an American post-minimalist artist, approaching post-minimalism with a Mennonite lens, basing his aesthetic off of anabaptist theology and simple way of life as well as art history. Shetler is represented by Caitlin Berry Fine Art.
“The presence and value of simplicity in my upbringing has greatly inspired my practice, both conceptually and aesthetically. Raised in a Mennonite family, the idea of simplicity pervades all aspects of life, from the modest architecture of our churches to our cookbooks, which are titled More With Less and Simply in Season. One of the theological questions we ask ourselves is how can we be in the world, but not of the world? Mennonite families typically live humbly; homes are not embellished with art, excess, or worldly items, but are rather of modest design, in which form follows function. One of the ways to live simply is to not place too much emphasis on the endless pursuit of worldly success, popular culture, and social media. As a visual artist, I create work that reflects these values; it’s a rejection of the things that I believe complicate our lives.
I see my work as the visual definition of my character and what I strive to be. There is a sense of consistency and order in my life, which I aim for my mark and compositions to reflect. When defining ethos we have to ask what brings a sense of credibility to the work. The evident investment of time displayed by the quality of the graphite mark conveys my dedication to the language of drawing.”
All artworks at the Silva are by local artists and sourced by Latela Curatorial, a full service art advisory studio based in Washington DC.
Services include art acquisition, installation, lighting/framing, collections management, sales market reporting and more.
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or email us directly: studio@lateladc.com
Why focus on local artists?
Art collections provide strong roots for artists, which is fundamental more now than ever in a quickly-evolving city. Furthermore, they tell stories. The Silva’s mission to invest in some of the city’s most committed artists through collecting is monumental. To dedicate space for rotating exhibitions and programming is a commitment to placemaking that will set an example for apartment buildings to come.
We are beyond excited about our partnership with The Silva, which allows Latela Curatorial to further expand its mission to curate and share narratives in this city by exhibiting art in this new public gallery space.