August, 2026
Washington — Now on view at the Katzen Arts Center's rotunda at American University in Washington is the Ward Circle Faction's "GILT by association." The presentation of paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings by thirteen artists invites viewers to make associations of the various works with the use of gold as gilting, whether the associations evoke good or evil. Unavoidably, in this show there will be both. Let viewers beware.
Appearing on the south rotunda wall of "GILT by association" are multiple gold-painted styrofoam wall accents, noteworthy for both their oppressive positioning and their tackiness. They summon an immediate association with overdone embellishments a few miles away at an oval office on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The laugh-out-loud humor of it dissipates quickly, however, when viewers are confronted by two overwhelming works associating the gilt — or guilt — with military takeovers and people behind bars. A chilling portrait of an infamous autocrat dominates works depicting bombings, blood, lust, corruption, and death.
Interspersed are devilishly comical depictions of a duck and seashells, topical associations to break a spell of doom and grief.
Proceeding around the rotunda, the mood lightens with dazzing gold frames illuminating colorful still-lifes. Gilt enhances lively depictions of birds and butterflies. Ave Maria's golden enhancements challenge the darkness on the other side of the rotunda. Here the use of gilt for beauty, hope, and happiness contrasts with its misuse elsewhere, replicating the current, fateful competition in the outside world.
The artists are affiliated with Group 93. The show is curated by Claudia Vess and Lucy J. Blankstein.
https://group93wash.blogspot.com/ https://www.american.edu/cas/katzen/exhibitions.cfm
