VESSNA SCHEFF

The pop of opening a jewel CD case, the hum of electronics beginning to spin, the punch of pushing “play” on a walkman.. Buzzing with 90’s sonic nostalgia, we are brought to moments right before the liberation of sound fills the eardrums and vibrates the soul. We hear the click of roller skates hitting the rink, the whir of wheels transporting you to unraveled, embodied bliss in intimate orbit with others, reflective of the freedom you carry with you in a walkman, disc man, and boombox... Just push play.

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Collection sounds: BUTTER. Stream everywhere.

Listen to the special release playlist on Spotify here.

Enter the installation below <3

Show Write Up:

In her second solo show, Click! Whir. Unravel…, Vessna Scheff brings us into a world filled with movement, color, music and emotion. Through large scale watercolor paintings, ceramic “vinyl” records, watercolor projections, and original music, Scheff’s floor to ceiling installation transports us to the moment of release under a 90’s edition of a disco ball- a chandelier composed of CDs, clear jewel cassettes cases, and mirrors. Harkening to works of abstract expressionism and color field painting, Scheff pushes genres and mediums beyond categorization and into a stunning moment held in time- the embodied release of hearing the first few notes of a song that unravels you. Walking through watercolor projections with headphones on, we are flooded by the activity held in her large scale paintings that challenge common conceptions of watercolors. 

Leaning into language commonly used to describe watercolors- “difficult” and “uncontrollable”, Scheff positions the freedom and movement of watercolors as an expression of their- and our- fullest liberation. “These words- “difficult” and “uncontrollable”- are words often used to describe Black hair and living,” Scheff shares. “The use of watercolors in my paintings pushes against the desire to control and instead positions us to appreciate that liberation. An understanding we can extend to how we talk about and perceive Black living.” 

The sounds carried by discman throughout the exhibition move us in shimmering orbits around the installation, and sonically take us to Adult Skate Night- unofficially known as Black Skate Night. “Adult Skate Night is the night it was afforded for Black people to enjoy the roller skating rink when rinks were forced to become ‘integrated’ spaces,” describes Scheff. “This was a night when people could gather in community, safety, care, celebration, and experience the incredible flying, floating freedom of gliding on skates.” Listening to the music while walking through the installation, we are encouraged to pool, puddle, laugh, drip, dance, and feel our way through emotions, emerging refreshed, grounded, and excited to return for more.

Select collection single: BUTTER. Stream everywhere.