CONSTRUCT: LOUD BY NATURE

April 28th - April 30th 2023 | 715 S. Los Angeles Street
Opening Reception: April 28th 2023 | 7-10pm

Con·struct

noun
/ˈkänˌstrək(t)/
an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements, typically one considered to be subjective and not based on empirical evidence

verb
/kənˈstrək(t)/
to make or form by combining or arranging parts or elements

CONSTRUCT: Loud by Nature is the latest series of works by artist and designer Micah Clasper-Torch. Through her unique fusion of punch needle rug hooking and wearable art, Clasper-Torch presents an imaginative and unapologetic examination of art and fashion, challenging the preconceived notions that often separate the two.

At the heart of CONSTRUCT lies a dual meaning. As a noun, it reflects Clasper-Torch's firm rejection of assumptions and gatekeeping that dominate the art and fashion realms. She questions and breaks down the dogmatic constructs that define and confine these disciplines, and forging her own paradigm, she redraws the boundaries of creativity and self-expression. As a verb, CONSTRUCT embodies the meticulous process by which Clasper-Torch creates her pieces. Drawing on her formal backgrounds in tailoring, clothing construction, and punch needle rug hooking, she combines and arranges elements with painstaking precision, constructing a new artistic reality.

As part of the ongoing CONSTRUCT series, Loud by Nature serves as the imaginative opening chapter, weaving together diverse threads of inspiration and innovation in her work. Through vibrant colors, varied shapes, and a multitude of materials, Clasper-Torch embraces all sides of herself, from Avante-Garde to traditional, bright to subdued,  and masculine to feminine. Drawing inspiration from flora, fauna, and geology as well as architecture, her forms celebrate the beauty of the natural and “artificial” worlds around us, reminding us that humans are part of nature, too. It is a celebration of womanhood and being unapologetically oneself, an embodied critique of the patriarchal norms that have silenced women for too long.

Through CONSTRUCT: Loud by Nature, Clasper-Torch invites us to question and challenge the norms and constructs we experience in our own lives and imagine the role creativity can play in forging new realities.