passage | gail samuelson + karen zusman | photographs

October 10, 2021 – December 31, 2021

About a year ago I discovered the work of Gail Samuelson and Karen “KZ” Zusman while doing a deep dive on the website A Yellow Rose Project, a project curated by Meg Griffith and Frances Jakubek celebrating the 100th anniversary of Women’s suffrage. I didn’t know either of them or their work and they didn’t know one another. I discovered so many wonderful artists and amazing work through this site that has led to this exhibition and several new residents in our artist in residence program.

Gail works almost entirely in color and KZ in black and white. Despite different sensibilities in the work I felt a kinship between the two artists and decided I wanted to show their work together. Ironically I decided not to feature the work they had shown for Yellow Rose. After camping on both of their websites for quite some time I couldn’t get Gail’s Passing Through and Light House series out of my head and I fell in love with KZ’s work from Cuba and then subsequently her Super Power of Me series. Passage seemed an apt metaphor and through line for both artists’ work. It also connects back to the passage of the 19th amendment without which this exhibit would never have happened. The impact of those courageous women and their work toward gender equity a century ago continues to ripple through to today.

Frank Konhaus
October 2021

Passage is part of the annual Click! Photography Festival and Cassilhaus is a proud partner of the Festival.

Gallery Guide Available Here

3D Walkthrough of Cassilhaus and Passage Exhibition Here

Events

Opening: Thursday, December 2nd, 7-9 pm
Please RSVP to passageviewing@cassilhaus.com

Live on ZOOM walk-through and artist conversation with Ellen Cassilly, Gail Samuelson, and Karen Zusman: Tuesday, December 7th 7-9 pm

 
As Cassilhaus is also a private residence, we will forward directions to you when you RSVP. We are located in Duke Forest, fifteen minutes from both Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. If you’d like to be the first to hear about events and exhibitions in the future, please sign up to be on our mailing list.

Private appointments for individuals, schools, or other groups upon request. Please email frank@cassilhaus.com.