The gorgeous and intense “Oddments,” a solo exhibition from Melissa Furness, CAM Visual Arts Faculty, is on display at K Contemporary Gallery through the month of September.

Featuring vivid colors, large canvases, and structural installations, the show surprises and invites the viewer to dive into classical context by way of a dramatic—but still intimate—passage through the exhibition.

The pieces depict objects commonly found throughout history, which she compiles on the canvas to critique the traditional Western canon of art. By reframing these objects in piles on a canvas, she questions the symbolism that’s been attached to the items throughout art history.

The inspiration for the elaborate installations comes from the ancient dolmens. Dolmens are large slabs of stone placed in specific configurations to make different structures. Even though remnants of dolmens have been found around the world, the exact uses for them are not clear. Some say they were used as tombs, some as places of worship, but the exact uses remain unknown.

Melissa uses her canvases to recreate the recognizable ruins of the dolmens, bringing an additional layer of connection to the idea of ruins, piles, and deconstruction, as shown in the content of the paintings themselves.

The installations are striking and bring movement to the entire gallery, and the ornate paintings give so much for the eye to explore.

The installation is open through September 28^th at K Contemporary Gallery.

K Contemporary Gallery

1412 Wazee St Unit 2

Denver, CO 80202