Ferrous Form/Unform
The outer rims of these pieces were made by hand-marbling over 100 yards of paper, collaging that paper, and then laminating it to the wall. The center is painted directly onto the wall, and each star is hand-tapped with a marker.
264” x 180” (22’ x 15’) each 2023
Installed at Oklahoma Contemporary, The Soul Is A Wanderer These paintings depict two different realms: the celestial and the terrestrial.
Framed by a tactile printed rock surface, the circular composition of Ferrous Form/Unform acts as a portal to the distant and intangible stars. Here, marbled paper mimics the red, iron-rich earth of Oklahoma, formed nearly 300 million years ago. The center depicts the Mice Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices, a system of two spiral galaxies in the process of merging. This star system is approximately 300 million light years away. The light we see from the galaxies left its stars when the dirt of Oklahoma was first formed. The light and the land meet at this point which we call now, or the present.
Press
• “The Wandering Soul of Oklahoma Artists” By Silvia Benedetti. Hyperallergic. January 9, 2024
• “Dans l’Oklahoma, une biennale pour « trouver la réponse dans la poussière »” By Silvia Benedetti. Le Quotidien de L'Art magazine. Pages 15-17. December 8, 2023
• “Exploring the Unknown: The Soul is a Wanderer and So Are We.” Oklahoma Contemporary. August 11, 2023
• ARTNOW 2023. “The Soul is a Wanderer.” Oklahoma Contemporary. Exhibition Catalogue. July 2023
• “Errant Spirits // Art Now: The Soul is a Wanderer at Oklahoma Contemporary.Errant Spirits // Art Now: The Soul is a Wanderer at Oklahoma Contemporary.” Benjamin Murphy. Art Focus: Summer 2023. Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Pages 14-17. June 2023
Hand-marbled paper, collage, acrylic paint on canvas. 2022. 52” x 58” each
Hand-marbled paper, digital print, collage, acrylic paint on canvas. 2022. 38” x 58” each
Hand-marbled paper collaged and laminated to the wall, 2023
Hand-marbled paper collaged and laminated to the wall, 2023
Hand-marbled paper collaged and laminated to the wall, 2023
In the exhibition A Mythic Pause, Molly Kaderka presents her latest works, which explore deep time embodied in geological formations and the night sky and engaged in a delicate interplay of terrestrial and celestial realms.
The centerpiece of the show is a series of five works that move the viewer from an experience of dense darkness—layers of heavy rock broken by a few slivers of sky—to an encounter with a nearly overwhelming brightness, as the work evokes the night sky four billion years hence, when the neighboring galaxy of Andromeda is predicted to collide with our own Milky Way. Anchoring the series is an immense and exquisitely balanced formation of rock-like surfaces encircling a night sky, the ancient stones opening to the distant, intangible stars.
These dramatic installations leave behind our traditional associations of rock and sky with permanence and stillness, illusions born out of our brief interactions with both. In the nearly unfathomable span of deep time, everything is shifting, spinning, and changing.
Rosetta Stone Back Side. Pastel pencils on hand-toned paper. 52" x 41". 2016
The Rosetta Stone is a rock stele inscribed with a decree from King Ptolemy V in 196 BCE. The decree is written in three scripts: hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek. The stone provides a key for the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs, which were previously undecipherable. This to-scale drawing represents the back side of the Rosetta Stone, which contains none of the important historical information. Object is in the British Museum, museum number EA24.
Orion Star Map, diptych. Charcoal pencils on hand-toned paper. 64”x 23”. 2015
In this drawing the image of an archaeological object called the Adorant (one of the oldest known representations of the human form, dated c. 35,000 BCE and thought to be the first star chart following the movements of the Orion constellation) is superimposed against the image of the constellation Orion. The right panel of the diptych represents the back side of the carved mammoth tusk found in Germany in 1979. It depicts the 86 notches carved into the ivory, thought to represent the 86 days the Orion constellation is visible in the northern hemisphere. This longstanding tradition of seeing images of mankind in the sky, and conjuring stories about how stars came to be where they are, is a beautiful record of human beings trying to understand the vast world around them. Object is in the Württemberg Landesmuseum, Stuttgart.
Orion Star Map, diptych. Charcoal pencils on hand-toned paper. 32”x 23”. 2015
This is a representation of the front side of the carved mammoth tusk found in Germany, 1979. This is one of the earliest representations of the human figure and it is thought to represent the constellation of Orion.
Orion Star Map, diptych. Charcoal pencils on hand-toned paper. 32”x 23”. 2015
This is a representation of the back side of the carved mammoth tusk found in Germany 1979. It depicts the 84 notches carved into the ivory, thought to represent the 84 days the Orion constellation is visible in the northern hemisphere.
Ancient Cuneiform Star Map. Pastel pencil on hand-toned gouache paper. 10" x 10". 2016
This drawing represents a circular clay tablet called a planisphere, which maps various constellations. It is from the Neo-Assyrian Empire. With contemporary computer analysis it has been determined that the tablet accurately depicts the night sky of January 3-4, 650 BCE, over Nineveh. Object is in the British Museum, object number K.8538.
Ancient Lunar Eclipse Cuneiform Tablet. Pastel pencils and gouache on paper. 27" x 17". 2016
This drawing represents an ancient Babylonian clay tablet that refers to a lunar eclipse between the 14th and 21st days of the month. Object is in the British Museum, object number ME. 16775.
Tektite, Indochinite. Pastel pencils on hand-toned paper, 10” x 16”. 2015
Tektites are formed when a meteorite collides with the earth with such force that it liquefies upon impact, then mixes with earth material and is thrown at high speed into the upper atmosphere. During this time the material cools and hardens, usually in a teardrop or dumbbell shape. Object is in a private collection.
A Time Apart (2), diptych. Pastel pencils on hand-toned gouache paper. 55" x 48" each. 2016
Left panel depicts an 80-million-year-old fossilized Hadrosaur egg. The right panel depicts the elliptical galaxy NGC 3610 Galaxy, which is approximately 80 million light years away. The light we see from the galaxy left its stars when the egg was laid. The fossil is in a private collection and the galaxy is in the sky.
A Time Apart (3), diptych. Pastel pencils and gouache on paper. 40" x 35" and 40" x 40". 2016.
Left panel depicts a 70-million-year-old Hadrosaur egg. The right panel depicts the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4639, which is 70 million light years away. The fossil is in a private collection and the galaxy is in the sky.
Fossilized Coral. Pastel pencils on hand-toned paper. 10" x 10". 2016.
From the Paleozoic era, 251-542 million years old. At the beginning of this era, there was a sudden increase in the diversity and complexity of life forms. The first plants and animals with hard body parts, including coral, emerged and began to leave a substantial fossil record. Today more than 50% of the world’s coral is in danger of bleaching and/or extinction. Object is in the National History Museum of London, listed as Acervularia Ananas (Linnaeus).
Fossilized Fern Leaf.
Depiction of a fossilized impression of a fern leaf from the Upper Carboniferous period, 280-310 million years ago. During this time, warm temperatures and swampy environments led to a flourishing of plant life, including ferns. As these plants died, their decaying material formed the coal reserves used to this day. Object is in the National History Museum of London, listed as Neuropteris Gigantea Sternberg.
Sikhote-Alin Meteorite. Pastel pencil on hand-toned gouache paper. 10" x 10". 2016.
This drawing represents a fragment from the 1947 Sikhote-Alin meteorite strike in Siberia. When this meteorite entered earth’s atmosphere, it exploded in mid-air, creating a sonic boom across the continent. Object is owned by the artist.
Velociraptor Skull. Pastel pencils on hand-toned paper, 40" x 52". 2015
Velociraptor was a dinosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous period, 71-75 million years ago.
Day Moon. charcoal pencils on hand-toned paper. 2015. 24” x 25”
This is a drawing of a waxing moon in the sixth day of its cycle. It is a representation of the moon as seen from an 8” refractor telescope with a 25mm eyepiece, and informed by lunar maps and photos.
M13, Globular Cluster (1). charcoal pencils on hand-toned paper. 2015
This is a drawing of the globular star cluster M13. There are approximately 300,000 stars in the cluster, some of them 11.7 billion years old. These stars are some of the oldest objects in our galaxy and easily the oldest objects most people can ever hope to see.
M13, Globular Cluster (2). charcoal pencils on hand-toned paper. 2015
This is a drawing of the globular star cluster M13. There are approximately 300,000 stars in the cluster, some of them 11.7 billion years old. These stars are some of the oldest objects in our galaxy and easily the oldest objects most people can ever hope to see.
Last of Their Kind: Critically Endangered Birds. Oil paint on linen. 2018. 36” x 28”
All birds depicted are endangered or critically endangered.
Last of Their Kind: Critically Endangered Birds, detail. Oil paint on linen. 2018. 36” x 28”
All birds depicted are endangered or critically endangered.
Last of Their Kind: Critically Endangered Bears. Oil paint on linen. 2018. 24” x 34”
All bears depicted are critically endangered.
Flat Earth. Oil Paint on Canvas. 2018. 11.5” x 13.5”
Flat Earth, detail. Oil Paint on Canvas. 2018. 11.5” x 13.5”
Cliff the Triceratops. pastel pencil on hand-toned gouache paper.10" x 10". 2017
Saber-Toothed Tiger Fossil. pastel pencil on hand-toned gouache paper. 10" x 10". 2017
The Hands of Atlas
Monoprint, pastel, gouache on paper. 36” x 30”
Haw Contemporary, Kansas City
Chris Daharsh and Molly Kaderka
In the exhibition What Remains, Chris Daharsh and Molly Kaderka present their latest works, which explore the relationship between material processes and historical objects. In these works, the artists pay particular attention to remnants, to what is left behind, either by humans or by natural forces, contemporary and ancient. Both are enthralled by historical and archeological artifacts, and are creating works that present objects in an enigmatic and empathetic way. And each has a unique way of exploring object-making, with Daharsh using a heavily layered sculptural process and Kaderka employing meticulous drawing against a color-field background to give objects visual power.
Daharsh uses commonplace materials—burlap, plaster, concrete—to make a sculpture that represents a kind of contemporary artifact. Kaderka’s objects, lovingly rendered through a highly detailed method of drawing, engage the viewer in a new appreciation of objects that might otherwise go unnoticed. Through different processes, Daharsh and Kaderka each use a variety of layering techniques, layering marks, textures and patinas to create a sense of time in these works and to communicate the significance of each artifact.
This contemplative exhibition will invite viewers to re-examine objects and their significance in the context of the time in which they were made and in the present.
“Sky Well” is a series of four large-scale pieces which represent the orbit of the earth around the sun by way of the seasonal night sky. The constellations represented in the central night sky appear as they would during that season and are determined by the directionality of the wall they are installed on. For instance, Sister Stone, which depicts the Pleiades constellation as it would be see in the Eastern sky, is situated on the East wall. Within the series, a viewer will be able to face each cardinal direction and see constellations characteristic of each season. Each work is accompanied by a star-map label, which names the constellation—and the stars within the constellation—and encourages the viewer to look for that constellation within the work.
Autumn Waters, detail
Autumn Waters. Monoprints on mulberry paper and acrylic paint applied directly onto the wall. 2018. 105” x 120”
Here, the constellation Cassiopeia extends across the Milky Way as it would be seen in the autumn sky. The season holds particular significance, as Earth's orbit begins to turn us toward the periphery of the galaxy in autumn (in summer, we face its center). This large scale drawing invites the viewer to look into something both familiar and terrestrial - the stone - to see another realm, the celestial night sky.
Sister Stone: Winter. Monoprints on mulberry paper and acrylic paint applied directly onto the wall. 2018
This piece represents the Pleiades constellation in the eastern sky of the northern hemisphere. The Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters) is a winter constellation and can be seen just ahead of the hunter Orion.
Sister Stone: Winter, detail. Monoprints on mulberry paper and acrylic paint applied directly onto the wall. 2018
Lion Rise: Spring. Monoprints on mulberry paper and acrylic paint applied directly onto the wall. 2018
This piece represents the constellation Leo in the eastern sky of the northern hemisphere. Leo is a spring constellation.
Lion Rise: Spring, detail. Monoprints on mulberry paper and acrylic paint applied directly onto the wall. 2018
Out of Millions. Each panel is 48" x 96"
Dark Ground. Ink on paper. 2016. 125" x 60" each panel.
Dark Ground, detail Ink on paper. 2016. 125" x 60" each panel
Dark Ground, detail Ink on paper. 2016. 125" x 60" each panel.
Installation of Dark Ground (left) and Topographies of Mind (right)
Swan Stone. Mono-print, Pastels and charcoal on mulberry paper. 105" x 120". 2018
Here, the constellation Cygnus extends across the Milky Way as it would be seen in the autumn sky. The season holds particular significance, as Earth's orbit begins to turn us toward the periphery of the galaxy in autumn (in summer, we face its center). This large scale drawing invites the viewer to look into something both familiar and terrestrial - the stone - to see another realm, the celestial night sky.
Swan Stone, detail. Mono-print, Pastels and charcoal on mulberry paper. 105" x 120". 2018
Swan Stone, detail. Mono-print, Pastels and charcoal on mulberry paper. 105" x 120". 2018
Swan Stone, detail. Mono-print, Pastels and charcoal on mulberry paper. 105" x 120". 2018
Star Map, label. Graphite on paper. 2016. 4” x 6”
Scorpius Stings Orion Constellation. Charcoal on hand-toned gouache paper. 2016. 34" x 27"
Scorpius Stings Orion Constellation. Charcoal on hand-toned gouache paper. 2016. 34" x 27"
Scorpius Stings Orion Constellation, detail. Charcoal on hand-toned gouache paper. 2016. 34" x 27"
The Veil Nebula. Charcoal on hand-toned gouache paper. 2016. 8” x 8”
Orion Constellation. Marker on paper. 2016
Orion Constellation. Charcoal and Gouache on unprimed canvas. 2016
Displayed at Utah Museum of Contemporary Art in 2018, Desire Lines
Orion Constellation, detail. Charcoal and Gouache on unprimed canvas. 2016
Dry Ground, Rio Grand. Graphite on Paper. 2017. 18” x 24”
Ground. Graphite and Monoprint. 2018. 6” x 6”
Ground Studies. Mixed Media. 2016. 16” x 11”
To and From the Ground. Silk screen and ink on paper. 2016. 96” x 60”
Installation at Morgan Lehman Gallery
To and From the Ground, detail. Silk screen and ink on paper. 2016. 96” x 60”
To and From the Ground, detail. Silk screen and ink on paper. 2016. 96” x 60”
To and From the Ground, detail. Silk screen and ink on paper. 2016. 96” x 60”
To and From the Ground, detail. Silk screen and ink on paper. 2016. 96” x 60”
Paintings from 2010-2015
An older artist statement:
Beauty is power, period -Dave Hickey
My paintings and drawings are the results of an earnest desire to create beauty and meaning. Through the blending of realism with idealism, the unifying of the personal with the universal, and the infusion of the everyday with the fantastic, my work depicts worlds that are based in reality, but exist as reverie.
As representational and figurative images, these works are dramatic, dreamy, immersive, and contemplative. I find beauty and meaning through long periods of observing the world around me and synthesizing it through the act of painting. I take recognizable elements from reality and use them to create new worlds that are enigmatic and meditative. In these works, I have explored the relationship between surface and space through the use of mirrors. By using mirrors as still-life objects I have been able to introduce a second world (the space depicted in the mirror) within the world of the painting. The mirror acts as a metaphor for the painting itself--a flat surface that reflects and distorts the world we live in.
Reflection, as an idea, manifests itself in my work in multiple ways. It is expressed through physical objects like mirrors and paintings within the paintings; it also takes the form of introspection through self-portraiture. My work is propelled by the search for meaning within oneself. As a result, it explores many facets of self-portraiture: literal, metaphorical, allegorical, and spatial. As I investigate my own experiences of the world, I translate my findings into a universal visual language so that they are legible to others. My collective body of work is about this effort to create harmony and arrive at meaning through visual language.
Venus. Oil on canvas. 2015. 9” x 12”
This is a painting representing both the planet Venus as it appears in the sky at its greatest elongation (the night when it appears highest in the sky, seen on June 6, 2015), and a sculpture of the Roman goddess Venus.
A Kinship. Oil Paint on Linen. 2015. 32" x 36"
This painting uses art historical references, like the posture of the nude figure and color palette, in order to elevate the intimate connection between humans and rats—a species with whom we share 99% of our DNA.
Pursuit of Knowledge. Oil on Canvas. 2015. 36” x 52”
This painting explores the interplay between our quest for knowledge and fascination with mystery. In the image a figure is placed in front of a table of four objects-- a compass, a gyroscope, a prism, and a marble of the earth. The figure gestures to reach out for these objects which represent advancements in human knowledge and discovery, while holding a sculpture of the Venus of Willendorf—an ancient spiritual symbol.
The Good Shepherd. Oil Paint on Linen. 2015. 34" x 24"
Promised Paradise. Oil Paint on Linen. 2015
Promised Paradise. Oil Paint on Linen. 2015
Promised Paradise. Oil Paint on Linen. 2015
The Void. Oil paint on canvas. 2016. 96" x 96"
Infinite Beginnings. Oil Paint on Linen. 2015. 8” X 8”
Homage to Beginnings. Oil Paint on Canvas. 2014. 50" x 60"
In Reverie. 75" x 65". 2013. Oil paint on canvas.
Veil of Paradise. Oil Paint on Canvas. 2014. 52" x 60". In private collection
Cheeky Self Portrait. 2014. 2014. Oil Paint on Canvas. 24.25" x 24.25"
Lotus Eater Offering. Oil Paint on Linen, Hand Built Ceramic Sculpture. 2014. 33" x 20" x 8"
Lotus Eater Offering. Oil Paint on Linen. 2014. 33" x 20" x 8"
Self Portrait with Clementines. Oil Paint on Linen and hand built ceramic sculptures. 2014. 26" x 20"
Self Portrait with Clementines. Oil Paint on Linen. 2014. 26" x 20"
Self Portrait With Flowers. Oil Paint on Canvas. 16.5" x 24". 2015. Photo Credit: Clear Bright Matter
Pig Head. Oil Paint on Linen. 2014. 12" x 14".
Primal Nudes. Oil Painting. 2012. 46" x 36". In private collection
Self Portrait with Fruit Tree. Oil Paint on Linen. 2014
Self Portrait. Oil Paint on Linen. 2013
Nude Study. Oil on Canvas. 2013
Nude Study. Oil on Linen. 2013
Nude Study. Oil on Canvas. 2013
A Separation. Oil Paint on Canvas. 2012. 48" x 40"
No Real Ending. Oil on Linen. 2013. 30" x 24"
Clementines. 2013. Oil paint on linen. 24" x 34"
Apart, Still Together. 2012. Oil Painting on Canvas. 38” x 46”
Lotus Eater. Oil Paint on Linen. 2013. 24.5" x 19"
Reminiscing. 2013. Oil paint on linen. 34" x 24"
Portrait of Cody. 2010. Oil Painting on Canvas. 32” x 22”
Untitled Self-Portrait, 2. Oil Painting on Canvas. 2010. 40” x 25”. Sold
Untitled Self Portrait, 1. 2010. Oil Painting on Canvas. 40” x 24”. In private collection
Sleeping Nude. 2010. Oil Painting on Canvas. 50” x 35”. In private collection
Eva. 2012. Oil Painting on Canvas. 28” x 34”. Sold
At the Table. Oil Paint on Paper. 2012. 50" x 72"
Cabinet Reflection. Oil Paint on Paper. 2013
Reflections. Oil Paint on Paper. 2012. about 5" x 9" & 3" x 5".
Reflection. Oil Paint on Linen. 2012. about 10" x 14".
Nudes Emerging From Pumpkins. 2012. Oil Painting on Canvas. 54” x 72"
Horse Skull. Oil Paint on Canvas. 2013
Lemons. Oil Paint on Paper. 2012. 5" x 7"
