Of The Day: A Common Place

BRANDAN HENRY AND THERESA ROSE

Runs / Nov 1 - Dec 15, 2024

Reception / Friday, Nov 1st from 6-9 PM

Hours: Sat-Sun from 2-6 PM

This fall, Grizzly Grizzly presents Of The Day: A Common Place, a two-person exhibition by Brandan Henry and Theresa Rose that explores how we experience and interpret urban spaces, asking who is allowed to fully inhabit these environments. Through distinct approaches—Henry’s wall-sized charcoal drawings and Rose’s mixed-media works on paper—the artists invite us to consider the multifaceted nature of cities and the individuals within them.

For the first time, Brandan Henry draws site-specifically, using Grizzly Grizzly’s white walls as his paper. His large-scale charcoal depictions of solitary Black figures, isolated in vast negative space, examine the complexities of being seen and unseen in urban environments. Through his observations of Wilmington and Philadelphia, Henry explores how urban spaces both oppress and liberate, becoming sites of tension between control and surrender. His figures, suspended in white voids, evoke vulnerability and resilience—quiet acts of resistance against societal structures that dictate their movements. Through his meticulous use of charcoal’s texture and shading, Henry captures the subtle strength of his subjects.

In contrast, Theresa Rose’s intimate works focus on the industrial and functional aspects of the city. Using found paper and her own photographs, Rose creates colorful collages and prints that document the changing urban landscape, drawing attention to overlooked spaces often slated for demolition. Her work, informed by a deep connection to Philadelphia, captures moments of transition and the beauty found in the city’s evolving architecture and infrastructure. While Henry’s work centers on the figures who inhabit urban spaces, Rose shifts our focus to the spaces themselves—factories, construction sites, and everyday structures—reminding us that cities are constantly in flux, shaped by the forces of gentrification, renewal, and decay.

Together, Henry and Rose create a dialogue about the shared experiences of urban life. Henry’s exploration of the Black body in public spaces intersects with Rose’s focus on the built environment, creating a “flipped space” where large renderings of figures and small depictions of industrial structures coexist. Combined, their works create an imagined, psychogeographic map that raises questions about who belongs in these spaces, and how race, class, and history shape our understanding of urban environments, impacting our identities, movements, and relationships.

Artist Bios:

Delaware-based artist Brandan Henry explores themes of identity, solitude, and stillness through charcoal and graphite drawings. After high school, Henry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving two tours overseas, including a seven-month deployment in Iraq, where he drew portraits of fellow troops to send to their families. Following his honorable discharge, he used the Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post-9/11 Bill to attend the University of Delaware, earning his BFA in 2013 and MFA in 2022. Henry is a recipient of the Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Fellowship and has exhibited internationally, including in Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. His solo exhibition Ebon Solus was recently on view at the Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington, DE.

Theresa Rose lives and works in her beloved hometown, Philadelphia. Her passion for the city fuels the content of her studio practice. She earned a BA in Art Education from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, and an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Her work has been featured in exhibitions at Fleisher Art Memorial, The Print Center and Marginal Utility. Rose founded Philly Stake, a city-wide micro-granting dinner event that funded creative community projects. A dedicated community advocate, she served as a Board Member of the Passyunk Square Civic Association for eight years. Rose previously held roles as Visual Arts Program Director at FringeArts and Public Art Project Manager for the City of Philadelphia. She also served as inaugural faculty in Moore College of Art and Design’s Graduate Social Practice Program. Currently, Rose is Managing Director of RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency) in Tacony.