Artist Judy Pfaff creates major installation that captures power of Hurricane Ian

Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
Judy Pfaff's installation at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is titled: Picking up the Pieces. Half the exhibit recognizes the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation, pictured, is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.
Judy Pfaff's installation at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is titled: Picking up the Pieces. Half the exhibit recognizes the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation, pictured, is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.

The devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in 2022 has been on many minds since it ran a path of destruction across Southwest Florida. Artist Judy Pfaff explores that impact in her newest installation "Picking Up the Pieces," which opens Nov. 19 at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College and is described as her largest installation since 2017. Museum leaders say it defies or crosses boundaries, combining painting, sculpture and architecture.

Pfaff witnessed the damage in Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, and has turned to her art to explore the physical and emotional power of the storm. In “Picking Up the Pieces,” she simulates the storm’s chaos and destruction and what followed as it moved away from the area.

Artist Judy Pfaff makes adjustments to some of the suspended objects in her installation titled, Picking up the Pieces, at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design. Half the exhibit recognizes the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.

Curator Rangsook Yoon said there are two parts to the installation. One is described as “Judy’s hymn to nature, celebrating the natural beauty and abundance of Florida in particular” with bright colors and LED and neon lights amid found objects and paintings. The second part is the site-specific installation, with a variety of objects raised into the air creating an artist’s vision of the destruction of human and natural habitats.

Judy Pfaff's installation at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is titled: Picking up the Pieces. Half the exhibit, pictured, consists of wall and table pieces recognizing the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.

Yoon said that the title of the installation “refers to the act of putting life back together, evoking human resiliency after a disaster or tragic event.” It is also a reference to Pfaff’s own creative process. “Pfaff has recycled three-dimensional components of works from decades ago and incorporated them into the new work.”

Over the last two weeks, Pfaff has been putting it all together. Photographer Mike Lang captured images of the process leading to the official opening when visitors can see the finished product.

The exhibition is dedicated to the late artist Peppi Elona, a museum founder, who died in May.

The exhibition continues through March 24. 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-309-4300; sarasotaartmuseum.org

Artist Judy Pfaff is busy putting finishing touches on her site-specific installation inspired by her visit to Ft. Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian. Her exhibition, titled: Picking up the Pieces, will be open from November 19, 2023 Ð March 24, 2024 at the Sarasota Museum of Art.
Artist Judy Pfaff is busy putting finishing touches on her site-specific installation inspired by her visit to Ft. Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian. Her exhibition, titled: Picking up the Pieces, will be open from November 19, 2023 D March 24, 2024 at the Sarasota Museum of Art.
A wall piece from Judy Pfaff's installation at the Sarasota Art Museum titled: Picking up the Pieces. Half the exhibit recognizes the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.
A wall piece from Judy Pfaff's installation at the Sarasota Art Museum titled: Picking up the Pieces. Half the exhibit recognizes the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.
Jeff Kitchen, assistant to artist Judy Pfaff, installs additional lights for the "Picking up the Pieces" exhibit at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design. Half the exhibit recognizes the natural beauty and abundance of Florida. The site-specific half of the installation, pictured here, is a result of Pfaff's exploration of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island following Hurricane Ian.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Artist captures Hurricane Ian devastation in Sarasota Art Museum show

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