Structural Dichotomy
René Lee Henry
Molly Koehn

Structural Dichotomy is a collaborative project between René Lee Henry and Molly Koehn. While both artists are interested in architecture and its intersection with nature, their interests differ in that René is inspired by abandoned construction, while Molly focuses on new construction. This dichotomy present in their work and interests reflects Houston’s landscape which is derelict, crumbling and overgrown but also brand-spanking-new, clean, and manicured. Structural Dichotomy embraces these dichotomies of Houston’s fabricated environment, offering parallels between abandoned and claimed, natural and synthetic, stable and decayed, and strength and fragility. In this installation, René and Molly take an active part in the re-shaping of an environment, recognizing their roles in the shaping of Houston’s environment. They highlight the inherent tension of human intervention in the natural world, encouraging contemplation about what assumptions are made about our intertwined but rarely incongruous futures.

René Lee Henry is a jeweler and metalsmith who currently lives and works in Houston, TX, where economic and environmental disparities have left many architectural environments derelict and abandoned, which has become the primary inspiration for her work. René received her BA from San Diego State University in 2013 and then relocated for an artist residency at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in 2016. Since then, she has continued her studio practice where she creates limited-production jewelry and one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces as well as teaching jewelry making workshops. Her work has been featured in exhibitions across the United States as well as the Netherlands and has had work published in SNAG Jewelry and Metals Survey (JaMS), Showcase 500 Art Necklaces, by Lark publishing and Metalsmith Magazine. Recent exhibitions have included Surf Report at Galerie Marzee, Handcrafted 2022 at Maria V. Howard Arts Center and CraftTexas 2022 at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

www.reneleehenry.com
@reneleehenry

Molly Koehn is an artist and designer based in Houston, TX, where the ever-shifting urban skyline provides constant fuel to her practice. Molly received an MFA with an emphasis in fibers from Arizona State University (2017), and her work continues to carry on the delicate, expressive qualities of her background and BFA in drawing from Fort Hays State University (2013). Melding a practice of textiles and sculptural installation, Molly’s work examines idealizations of nature. She responds to city structure through material and construction, exploring how we curate and shape our environments. In addition to keeping a studio practice, Molly also teaches workshops and classes regularly.

www.mollykoehn.com
@mollymos

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