Andrea Carvalho I Kristina Durka I Matthew Tegel
PORUS
June 5th - 28th, 2025
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Opening Reception - June 14, 2-4 pm
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Porous brings together three artists whose newest pieces are connected through tactile materiality and a studio-based research process. Not connected by subject, the sculptures in Porous are new, exploratory, and for the artists, are the beginnings of a larger body of work within their respective practices.
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Andrea Carvalho
My most recent textile-based sculptures reference rituals of awards and sport recognition with loss and longing. I recently lost my brother, and in grief took a sharp pivot towards sports, signing up for lessons in swim, surf, skating, and tennis. Being relatively terrible, the concentration required to hit a ball or breath properly during front crawls, brought a consistent, simple joy that was the right type of cognitive dissonance at a time of deep sadness and pain. This is early work that explores grief through sports.
Andrea Carvalho is a Portuguese Canadian artist and mother who’s practice is rooted within the language of sculpture, belonging, and the built environment. She holds an MFA from Concordia University, is based in Hamilton, Ontario and has shown her work and participated in residencies in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and British Columbia. She is a member of (F)NOR collective and a founding member of Assembly Gallery.
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Kristina Durka
This body of work was inspired by my coexistence with the wildlife next to my home. From my balcony, I have daily visits with various species of birds, squirrels, and at least one raccoon. Returning to ceramics after a short pause, I used the form of a dove as a starting point to explore both representational and abstract sculptural compositions. In folklore, doves are associated with hope and sorrow—twin sentiments I find identifiable within my art-making practice amidst late-stage capitalism. Throughout my research, I found comfort in learning that doves are awful nest builders.
Kristina Durka is an interdisciplinary artist, arts administrator, and rabbit enthusiast from Hamilton, Ontario. Her work explores the intersections between humans and animals often through craft and technology. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from McMaster University, has completed residencies throughout Canada and has shown work in group exhibitions and film festivals within the GTHA. Selected examples include Assembly Gallery, Photophobia Contemporary Moving Image Festival (Art Gallery of Hamilton), Hamilton Artists Inc., and Video Fever (Trinity Square Video). In addition to her studio practice, she has worked as a preparator, arts educator, and has held previous positions with Factory Media Centre, Hamilton Artists Inc. Her vintage-inspired animal planters are held in many private collections.
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Matthew Tegel
This particular work considers notions of fragmentation, compartmentalization with relation to productive, emotional and physical functionality.
Matthew Tegel is an arts worker and sometimes an artist. His work explores the relationships between labour, the body, capitalism and materiality.
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Opening Reception - June 14, 2-4 pm
––
Porous brings together three artists whose newest pieces are connected through tactile materiality and a studio-based research process. Not connected by subject, the sculptures in Porous are new, exploratory, and for the artists, are the beginnings of a larger body of work within their respective practices.
––
Andrea Carvalho
My most recent textile-based sculptures reference rituals of awards and sport recognition with loss and longing. I recently lost my brother, and in grief took a sharp pivot towards sports, signing up for lessons in swim, surf, skating, and tennis. Being relatively terrible, the concentration required to hit a ball or breath properly during front crawls, brought a consistent, simple joy that was the right type of cognitive dissonance at a time of deep sadness and pain. This is early work that explores grief through sports.
Andrea Carvalho is a Portuguese Canadian artist and mother who’s practice is rooted within the language of sculpture, belonging, and the built environment. She holds an MFA from Concordia University, is based in Hamilton, Ontario and has shown her work and participated in residencies in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and British Columbia. She is a member of (F)NOR collective and a founding member of Assembly Gallery.
––
Kristina Durka
This body of work was inspired by my coexistence with the wildlife next to my home. From my balcony, I have daily visits with various species of birds, squirrels, and at least one raccoon. Returning to ceramics after a short pause, I used the form of a dove as a starting point to explore both representational and abstract sculptural compositions. In folklore, doves are associated with hope and sorrow—twin sentiments I find identifiable within my art-making practice amidst late-stage capitalism. Throughout my research, I found comfort in learning that doves are awful nest builders.
Kristina Durka is an interdisciplinary artist, arts administrator, and rabbit enthusiast from Hamilton, Ontario. Her work explores the intersections between humans and animals often through craft and technology. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from McMaster University, has completed residencies throughout Canada and has shown work in group exhibitions and film festivals within the GTHA. Selected examples include Assembly Gallery, Photophobia Contemporary Moving Image Festival (Art Gallery of Hamilton), Hamilton Artists Inc., and Video Fever (Trinity Square Video). In addition to her studio practice, she has worked as a preparator, arts educator, and has held previous positions with Factory Media Centre, Hamilton Artists Inc. Her vintage-inspired animal planters are held in many private collections.
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Matthew Tegel
This particular work considers notions of fragmentation, compartmentalization with relation to productive, emotional and physical functionality.
Matthew Tegel is an arts worker and sometimes an artist. His work explores the relationships between labour, the body, capitalism and materiality.