In the hands of today’s artists, even the most mundane of materials—from blood to bandages to bicycle parts—can be repurposed as art that is sometimes beautiful, often challenging and always thought-provoking.
This sequel to Extreme Materials, MAG’s wildly popular 2006 exhibition, showcases 41 artists from the US, Canada, England and Germany. Their spectacular works, most from the past five years, include a room-sized structure built of Neutrogena soap; an installation created entirely from preserved insects; a nightgown made of condoms; and a Byzantine mosaic recreated in breakfast cereal.
Like its precursor, Extreme Materials 2 invites you to exercise your imagination and open your mind.
Artist & Medium List
Ryan Alexiev (breakfast cereal)
Jennifer Angus (insects)
Adriana Bertini (condoms)
Elaine Bradford (taxidermied animals)
Suzanne Broughel (adhesive bandages)
Dave Cole (ammunition)
Sally Curcio (false eyelashes)
William Kenneth Daw (dog kibble)
Tom Deininger (plastic toys)
Marc Dennis (coyote skulls)
Brian Dettmer (encyclopedias)
Angela Ellsworth (pearl corsage pins)
Rosemarie Fiore (fireworks residue)
Mary Giehl (alum crystals)
Nemo Gould (Bundt cake pans)
John Greene (steel wool)
Phyllis Hackleman (used coffee filters)
Laurie Hassold (animal bones)
Danielle Julian Norton (Neutragena soap)
Theo Kamecke (electronic circuitry)
Mark Khaisman (packing tape)
Richard Klein (eyeglasses)
Nick Kozak (plastic soup spoons)
Cal Lane (steel oil cans)
Mike Libby (grasshopper)
Jennifer Maestre (colored pencils)
Carlo Marcucci (pasta)
Rebecca Mushtare (plastic shopping bags)
Andrew Myers (screws)
Cornelia Parker (reclaimed dental gold)
Aurora Robson (discarded plastic bottles)
Loren Schwerd (hair extensions)
Donna Sharrett (dried rose petals)
Jean Shin (prescription bottles)
Jennifer Sirey (bacteria)
Esther Solondz (rust)
Laura Splan (cosmetic facial peel)
Rebecca Szeto (thorns)
Vadis Turner (tampons)
Jess von der Ahe (blood)
Mark Wagner (currency)
This exhibition is sponsored by M&T Bank, MVP Health Care, the Gallery Council of the Memorial Art Gallery and an anonymous donor.