Morris Wazney’s first major career overview at Gallery in the Grove demystifies the ancient, industrial process of bronze casting while showcasing surreal sculptures inspired by memory and Florence.
A new exhibition at Gallery in the Grove is set to bridge the gap between heavy industry and fine art. Opening Saturday, March 21, "28" offers the first major overview of sculptor Morris Wazney’s early career in bronze casting.
The collection features works produced during the first five years of Wazney’s independent practice at Shed 28. Her journey into the medium began after completing a BFA in Sculpture and Installation at OCAD University, which included a year of study in Florence, Italy.
Wazney uses ceramic shell and lost wax casting to create pieces that move between the physical body and the mind. The sculptures draw on surreal imagery, using recurring forms like fruits, vegetables, and fragments of memory to explore psychology and personal reflection.
The exhibition is designed as a two-part experience within the gallery. One room serves as a formal installation of finished bronze works, highlighting themes of sentimentality and generational humor. The second room acts as an educational hub, revealing the rigorous foundry process through wax models, molds, and studio artifacts.
The title of the show, "28," is a nod to both her studio and a historical tradition. Wazney produces her sculptures in limited editions of 28, a practice inspired by Lorenzo Ghiberti’s famous 28 bronze panel doors in Florence.
By showcasing the "how" alongside the "what," the exhibit centers the human labor behind the art. It moves the conversation away from faceless institutional art and toward the tactile, physical reality of a local creator maintaining a centuries-old craft.
The exhibition runs until April 25 at the Faethorne House in Wildwood Park. An opening reception will be held on March 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gallery in the Grove is a volunteer-operated charitable organization that continues to serve as a vital hub for artistic expression in Bright’s Grove.
Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gallery in the Grove is located at 2618 Hamilton Road in Bright’s Grove. You can find it on the second floor of the historic Faethorne House within Wildwood Park.
For more infomation, visit their website at www.galleryinthegrove.com.
