Bradenton, FL

FloridaRAMA Project

Storm Purge, Aluminum with translucent PVC

Located in the FloridaRAMA experience's Backwater area, Storm Purge references the drainage infrastructure that is crucial to Florida’s environmental stability in order to prevent flooding from hurricanes and other regional climate concerns. While this infrastructure is necessary, it also comes at a significant environmental cost that can cause conflicts between our communities because on top of fighting the natural elements, this infrastructure must also battle man-made pollution in order to properly function. Human trash, mainly plastic, often clogs the arteries of the system causing disastrous flooding, sewage leaks and other nefarious environmental issues. Storm Purge uses industrial materials to playfully recreate and expose these systems in order to create a dialogue on human connection and environmentalism. Cascades of blue plastic flow from the polished pipe, like a waterfall, or perhaps hair spilling onto the ground, resulting in a strangely beautiful and playful statement.

Bio—
KX2 is a collaboration combining the strengths of artists and sisters Ruth Avra and Dana Kleinman who create mathematically inspired sculptures merging metal and painting. From a distance, the work is bold and geometric, yet up close the viewer is engaged by textural, hand-sanded metal and multi-layered paintings. By exploring geometry, symmetry and connection, their work aims to create a moment of pause, inviting the viewer to escape the stresses of the day and find a space to achieve balance. In their most recent work, themes related to environmental issues are presented with the hope to raise an awareness of the fragility of our natural ecosystems. Since establishing their artistic collaboration in 2007, KX2’s work has been featured in notable galleries and museums around the world. Importantly, the work was leveraged to the international art scene with an invitation to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Biennale at the National Art Museum of China. Their work can be found in numerous private, corporate and public art collections throughout North America. Avra and Kleinman currently reside with their individual families in Southern Florida.