JANUARY 18 – MARCH 2
Galusha Gallery
The Excerpts of Earth was an incisive sensory dialogue between the artist and the environment, articulated through the mediums of clay, sound, and poetry. This project critically interrogated conventional narratives of exploitation by advocating for a paradigm of exploration that sought to deepen our understanding of the world’s intricate systems. The ceramic vessels, formed from clay sourced from diverse locations in Nashville, embody the artist’s critical engagement with place and materiality. Accompanied by sounds gathered during travels between Tennessee and Minnesota, and interwoven with reflective poetry, these elements collectively construct a dynamic map. This map not only traces the artist’s physical journey but also charts an introspective path through the layered histories and futures of the landscapes encountered. It invites viewers to confront and rethink their own roles within the ecological and cultural narratives that shape our interactions with the Earth.
About the Artist
Raheleh Filsoofi, a collector of soil and sound, is an itinerant artist, feminist curator, and community advocate. Her work revolves around themes of movement, immigration, and social activism. Clay and sound serve as her primary expressive mediums, enabling her to create diverse narratives through multimedia installations and performances. Her art disrupts the borders that exist between us and seeks a more inclusive world, illuminating and challenging policies and politics.
Filsoofi is the 2023 recipient of Joan Mitchell Fellowship award, the 2022 Winner of the1858 Contemporary Southern Art Award, and the recipient of the 2021 Southern Prize Tennessee State Fellowship. She is an Assistant Professor of Ceramics in the Department of Art at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) and holds the secondary appointment at the Blair School of Music. She received her MFA in fine arts from Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton) and a BFA in ceramics from Al-Zahra University (Tehran, Iran).