“Aggregate” examines relationships between the natural and constructed within a rust belt ecosystem. The exhibition is composed of found and foraged objects collected from urban and wild spaces of Northeast Ohio – bricks weathered by Lake Erie, deer vertebrae found alongside the Cuyahoga River, forest detritus gathered in the Chagrin Valley. Found forms and textures are reconfigured into sculptures of cast cement, plaster, glass, aluminum, and bronze, capturing ephemeral moments in enduring materials. Rust belt processes such as foundry casting and steel fabrication are used to highlight interactions between the human and non-human world. “Aggregate” re-imagines a post-industrial landscape and invites viewers to reflect on cycles of growth, decay, and environmental transformation.

About the Artist:

Hannah Bates is a Cleveland-based artist working in glass, metal, and wood, exploring the connection between raw materials and the natural world. She holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design. She has participated in residencies at ACRE, chaNorth, and Sculpture Space and exhibited at venues including Waterloo Arts, RoyGBiv, Heaven Gallery, and MANA Contemporary. Hannah teaches glass and metal casting at The Valley Art Center and is the Gallery Manager at Vessel City, an artist-run space in Cleveland, OH.