James Cherry's FROM POLLEN Illuminates NYC's TIWA Gallery
A range of handmade lighting crafted out of foraged and found materials.
Last fall, Alex Tieghi-Walker’s TIWA Gallery opened its first permanent space in Tribeca, NYC, which sets the backdrop for James Cherry’s new lighting installation. FROM POLLEN, the designer’s showcase of one-of-a-kind lighting creations is a fitting addition to Walker’s home-like space, centered on highlighting handmade crafts from emerging artisans and designers.
A distinct honey glow radiates from the otherworldly shapes, handcrafted by Cherry using a mixture of found, foraged, and fabricated materials between his New York studio and a historic Californian art commune. The 25 pieces are imbued with the contrasting environments of his Brooklyn workspace and his residency at Salmon Creek Farm, a queer arts program in Mendocino, California.
Cherry shared more on the inspiration saying “One of the chief aims of Salmon Creek Arts is creating a space where queer people can escape, collaborate, and live free from societal pressure.” He continued “The work I created for FROM POLLEN was born from that moment—standing in a lush garden, watching bees pollinate. For a brief time, it felt as though my life mirrored that abundance because of this rare kind of heaven I found myself being a part of.”
However, even while Cherry was away from his NY studio, the designer found himself shaping forms reminiscent of skyscrapers and towers. “I’ve been thinking about how to capture a sense of warmth and lightness within very planned, architectural forms— merging the organic with structure,” said the designer.
Further emphasizing the contrast, Cherry foraged twigs from opposite coasts: the Californian woodlands and NYC’s Central Park. In these ways, his multi-dimensional inspiration simultaneously informs the form and content of his work, firmly rooted in a sense of place.
The lamps are primarily made from what Cherry calls “Makeshift Fiberglass,” a mixture of recycled paper and fabric strengthened with a resin finish. He wraps this translucent textile around the structural skeletons made from foraged twigs, wires, and found materials.
The final result is alive in its visual character, with amorphous skeletal structures protruding from the illuminated textiles, almost as if they are about to break through. The gentle light is subdued, emanating only a minimal radius, like a spirit dwelling inside the lamp’s body.
FROM POLLEN will be on view now until January 18, Wednesday through Thursday by appointment, and Friday – through Saturday 12 pm to 5 pm at TIWA Select: 86 Walker Street, 5th floor.
