‘Rendez-Vous’ by Shlomo Harush, 2006 Aluminum courtesy Industry GalleryIf you happen to catch a glimpse of an aluminum-covered car driving around D.C. this weekend, don’t worry, it’s part promotion, part installation for Round the Corner, the inaugural exhibit at Industry Gallery, opening this Saturday. The vehicle, a 1993 Ford Explorer, is completely covered in aluminum, and one of the highlights of the exhibit.
The SUV is layered in sheets of aluminum that overlap and loosely conform to its shape. Essential windows needed for driving as well as the side mirrors are untouched. The effect gives the feel of a DIY tank with rivets holding the metal together, and surprising details like constructed flaps that hide door handles help render the car functional.
As an installation, the car is indicative of Shlomo Harush’s work in Round the Corner. It is large and industrial, but still functional. It pays homage to the gallery’s former use as an auto body shop and sits comfortably in the space facing a traffic light.
Industry Gallery, found on the upper floor of Conner Contemporary, is the latest addition to a growing Northeast gallery scene. It’s also quite large, encompassing 4,300 square feet; Harush’s work is almost engulfed by the space. Pieces that would overwhelm smaller spaces are now dwarfed by Industry’s.
