In a recent interview in Juxtapoz, Chuck Sperry spoke about three of the prints that will be in his upcoming exhibition at Spoke Art:
“A central triptych in my solo at Spoke Art is very loosely, thematically based on the women only festival or ritual Thesmaphoria, a closed ritual devoted to Demeter. The three pieces show Anodos (Ascent), Demeter (Mother Goddess), and Kalligeneia (Beautiful Creation). It is the harvest festival, a ritual fertility sacrifice, and celebration of the creative forces of womanhood practiced in ancient times.”
In recent years, Sperry’s exhibitions at Spoke have become rituals themselves, in which people camp out for days in advance, rain or shine, in order to get first pick of the artist’s work, which include the aforementioned Greek goddesses in William Morris-inspired settings. For 2018, Sperry’s Spoke ritual begins on April 7, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and runs through April 28. Think of it as a gift from fall to spring, in which everyone is invited to attend!