Zerbe Sodervick Art

One does not simply view the work of Zerbe Sodervick, one must enter it. Both her printed monotypes and handmade cast paper sculpture reach beyond the traditional confines of a gallery or studio wall, creating three-dimensional objects that dominate the viewing space and complex of interwoven contexts that entices viewers to explore the depths of each work.

A native of the Midwest, and a resident of the town of Sodus, near the shores of Lake Ontario, both Sodervick and her work have been shaped by her “abrasive, agrarian” surroundings, terrain that “feeds (her) artistically.

Zerbe Sodervick has long made monoprints depicting rock strata. The use of metallic powders as well as litho, offset and etching inks create a canvas of varied hues and textures. Sodervick’s experimentation with varied techniques allow for the inherent spirit of the materials to emerge, accommodating more that a hint of animism. The brighter-colored veins in her paper wall fragments are fluid and alive, as full of light, as those of any animate being. She states that these monotypes remind us that “we only lease the land.” The work suggests that although there are constant attempts by “civilization” to manipulate its geological features and forces, as well as its beings, to our seeming benefit, humans can not curtail the great workings of the earth.

Engaging with this work is as much a process for the viewer as the creation is for the artist. Sodervick expects her audience, too, to exert some effort, to take time, to suspend many pre-conceived notions of technology, Organic form and the ramifications of culture. Her pedagogical role is one of shared discovery, a joint journey of increased awareness. There is much to discover as one explores her work, from the rock strate monoprints to the sculptures of the “Deer Management Series.” Those who agree to give in to the process may find that communing with and discovering the full scope of this work is not necessarily an easy task. Initially engulfed by the sheer aesthetic beauty of the textured forms, observers are soon subverted by the ultimate complexity of the work, of the metaphors and allusions to far greater, but not far removed, issues. The ramifications implied by the structure may sometimes be a bitter pill to swallow, but the message is beautifully packaged and irresistibly inviting. – Karen VanMeenen (upstate writer/Visual studies workshop, Rochester, NY)

”Zerbe has an insatiable fascination for rick strata walls (like those penetrated by state highway systems). Her relief/collagraph prints speak of rock surfaces, compressed striating, amalgamations, and enraptured light. Cast handmade paper elongates these works, pushes rock surfaces into a third dimension.” – Little Gallery one-person exhibition, Nazareth College, Rochester, NY Appleseed Collection: curator Lawrence Merrill

You can see Zerbe Sodervick’s work at her studio in Rosemary District in downtown Sarasota and immerse in her fascinating creative work:

585-820-4306

Contact Zerbe for studio visits.