“THE BUILT WORLD”: These works by PDS art faculty will be on display at the Anne Reid Art Gallery. On the right is, “Bonzai” by Chase Rosade and on the left is Chris Maher’s “Antlerback Chair.” The exhibit combines manipulation of natural materials by the two artists, specifically in the presentation of handmade furniture and bonsai. The exhibit called “The Built World” will run from October 17 through November 10.

The Anne Reid ’72 Art Gallery at Princeton Day School presents “The Built World,” featuring the work of PDS Art Faculty members Chris Maher and Chase Rosade. This exhibit will be on view from October 17 through November 10, 2016. There will be an opening reception with the artists on Wednesday, October 19 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The exhibit and reception are both free and open to the public.

“The Built World” combines manipulation of natural materials by two artists. Through shaping the natural world around us, Chris Maher transforms wood into innovative furniture, while Chase Rosade works in the ancient tradition of the art of bonsai. These two different techniques reflect manipulation through living and dead wood to push and blur the boundaries of art and science.

The artists note their inspiration: “Since humankind has walked the earth, we have manipulated the world around us. We have turned animal hides to clothing, ground pigments into paint, and harnessed the power of the natural world. As this ability has progressed to modern times, we now have the ability to influence our own biology. In this project, we use bonsai as a medium to investigate the human desire to utilize art and science to shape the world around us. Bon, a small tray or pot, and Sai, a tree that is planted, give way to Bonsai, a tree planted in a small pot. Simple enough in definition, yet for over a thousand years, this process has walked the line between art and science. The manipulation of natural materials has been responsible for our ‘built world.’ From ship building techniques, to furniture design and modern architecture, controlling the tree has shaped the way we live today. Through this work, we will explore how manipulating living wood and transforming dead wood have reflected humankind’s innovations to push and blur the boundaries of art and science.”

With a degree in ornamental horticulture from Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Chase Rosade moved to England and finally to Nara, Japan where he studied the art of bonsai with Kyozo Yoshida. After working in this tradition for more 50 years, Mr. Rosade has traveled to almost every continent in the world to lecture on the art of bonsai. He continues to teach and demonstrate in his extensive, New Hope, Pennsylvania bonsai studio, which is open to the public.

“The Built World” is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when the school is in session, and by appointment on weekends. For more information about the Anne Reid ’72 Art Gallery, call Jody Erdman, art gallery director, at (609) 924-6700 x 1772 or visit www.pds.org.