The Entelechians — Curated by Rob and Eric Thomas-Suwall


April 8th — May 14th, 2022

RUSCHMAN
4148 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL 60618


According to Aristotle, there is a specific type of energy that, for living things, shepherds the potential into the realm of the actual. We see evidence of this energy in the metabolism and growth of plants and animals. However, for the human, there is something more at work than biological change. Rather than rote biochemical process, this force is expressed in our distinctive ability to reason. It flourishes where, through foresight, our very being transforms into a meaningful life and we find harmony in actualizing our true selves. Aristotle coined the word entelechy to theorize this unique force, noting that it is fully revealed when one strives towards self-perfection and, by doing so, realizes one’s purpose.

This energy is found in many aspects of human achievement such as the writing of philosophy or the formation of state and civil society, but nowhere is it more evident than the world of art. Here we see a form of expression that transcends more typical forms of communication. In this transcendence we experience a force capable of challenging societal paradigms, drawing our attention to new ways of thinking and perceiving. We experience the ability of this energy, through its very existence as something beautiful, to inspire others to realize their own purposes as well.

In that vein, we proudly present The Entelechians, a group show bringing together contemporary artists that have tapped into this energy, ushering in new ways of examining and celebrating our shared world. Each of the artists reveal an Aristotelian world constantly growing, developing, and self-actualizing. Our hope is that through the experience of their collective work, others will be able to encounter and celebrate the power of entelechy.


-Rob and Eric Thomas-Suwall



Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Marilyn Lerner

Marilyn Lerner, Overlap, 2012, Oil on wood, 36h x 24w in.

Marilyn Lerner - detail

Marilyn Lerner, Overlap, 2012, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Molly Greene

Molly Greene, Catenary, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 20h x 16w in.

Devra Fox

Devra Fox, Stacked, 2021, Graphite on paper, 26h x 20 7/8w in.

Devra Fox - detail

Devra Fox, Stacked, 2021, Detail Image

Robert Zehnder

Robert Zehnder, Wet Stone, El Greco Sky, 2022, Oil ground on canvas on panel, in artist frame, 20h x 16w in.

Robert Zehnder - detail

Robert Zehnder, Wet Stone, El Greco Sky, 2022, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Charlotte Hallberg

Charlotte Hallberg, Untitled Prince, 2022, Oil on canvas, mounted on panel, 48h x 48w in.

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Vincent Chen

Vincent Chen, Thunderbox, 2022, Acrylic, fiberglas, polystyrene, polyurethane, resin clay, aqua-resin, MDF, stainless steel, 35h x 15 1/2w x 10d in.

Vincent Chen - detail

Vincent Chen, Thunderbox, 2022, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Chris Bogia

Chris Bogia, Fountain V, 2020, Watercolor and pencil on paper, in artist frame, 14h x 10w in.

Nadia Ayari

Nadia Ayari, Fold 5, 2018, Oil on linen, 30h x 30w in.

Nadia Ayari - detail

Nadia Ayari, Fold 5, 2018, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Lila de Magalhaes

Lila de Magalhaes, Garden, 2019, Naturally-dyed sheep wool, thread, fabric, 18h x 18w in.

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Corydon Cowansage

Corydon Cowansage, Red and Purple, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 46h x 50w in.

Corydon Cowansage -detail

Corydon Cowansage, Red and Purple, 2022, Detail Image

Marilyn Lerner

Marilyn Lerner, Ways of Being, 2020, Mixed media on paper, 24h x 18w in.

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Nick Irzyk

Nick Irzyk, Untitled, 2022, Oil on canvas, in artist frame, 48h x 46w in.

Nick Irzyk - detail

Nick Irzyk, Untitled, 2022, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Chris Bogia

Chris Bogia, Archway IV, 2019, Yarn on wood panel, 71h x 47w in.

Chris Bogia - detail

Chris Bogia, Archway IV, 2019, Detail Image

Chris Bogia - detail

Chris Bogia, Archway IV, 2019, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Yuli Yamagata

Yuli Yamagata, Meditation, 2021, Ink and colored pencil on paper, 12 3/8h x 9 1/2w in.

Edie Fake

Edie Fake, No Means, 2015, Gouache and ink on paper, 22h x 30w in.

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Yuli Yamagata

Yuli Yamagata, Teenagers, 2021, Patterned fabric, elastane, silicon, fiber, sewing thread, felt, and oil on canvas, 42 1/8h x 30 1/4w x 4d in.

Yuli Yamagata - detail

Yuli Yamagata, Teenagers, 2021, Detail Image

Amanda Baldwin

Amanda Baldwin, Maritime Press, 2022, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 30h x 24w in.

Amanda Baldwin - detail

Amanda Baldwin, Maritime Press, 2022, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Douglas Rieger

Douglas Rieger, Princess, 2022, Wood, paint, steel, bead chain, 74h x 28w x 28d in.

Douglas Rieger - detail

Douglas Rieger, Princess, 2022, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Lila de Magalhaes

Lila de Magalhaes, Garden, 2019, Naturally-dyed wool, thread, mesh canvas, 18h x 18w in.

Devra Fox

Devra Fox, Anchor, 2021, Graphite on paper, 32 1/4h x 26w in.

Devra Fox - detail

Devra Fox, Anchor, 2021, Detail Image

Nadia Ayari

Nadia Ayari, Turn 1, 2018, Oil on linen, 30h x 30w in.

Nadia Ayari - detail

Nadia Ayari, Turn 1, 2018, Detail Image

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Richard Tinkler

Richard Tinkler, F2.1, 2022, Oil on canvas, 40h x 30w in.

Richard Tinkler - detail

Richard Tinkler, F2.1, 2022, Detail Image

Richard Tinkler

Richard Tinkler, F2.1x, 2022, Oil on canvas, 40h x 30w in.

Richard Tinkler - detail

Richard Tinkler, F2.1x, 2022, Detail Image

Chris Bogia

Chris Bogia, Fountain VI, 2020, Watercolor and pencil on paper, 14h x 10w in.

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Edie Fake

Edie Fake, Electric Company, 2018, Gouache on panel, 18h x 24w in.

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Install View

The Entelechians, Installation View

Ryan Johnson

Ryan Johnson, Large Wounded Bird, 2021, Epoxy clay and metal, 64 1/2h x 38w x 35d in.

Ryan Johnson - detail

Ryan Johnson, Large Wounded Bird, 2021, Epoxy clay and metal, 64 1/2h x 38w x 35d in.