Organized by: Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Memphis artist, educator, curator, and musician Scott A. Carter makes objects and environments that exist somewhere in the spaces between sculpture, architecture, design, and sound. Collaged, semi-transparent wall reliefs that look at first glance like abstract paintings, modular installations that utilize recycled and repurposed scraps or leftovers, and “furniture adjacent” objects that bear passing resemblance to vintage mid-twentieth century television or radio cabinets are all part of his oeuvre. Complex and visually dense, a typical work by Carter includes a long and diverse list of materials including plywood, oak, plexiglass, brass rods, glass, concrete, sand, cast aluminum, hydro stone, copper tape, solder, spray paint, beer bottles, silk flowers, input jacks, amplifiers, speakers, and electronic components.

Carter labels his art “semi-functional” with “varied levels of usefulness.” One type of utility found in many of his works is the ability to produce, process, or amplify sound. Carter sometimes invites musicians and sound artists to collaborate with his objects by plugging in instruments such as electric guitars and playing music through the sculptures themselves. However, sound production is not as important as visual aesthetics for the artist. The aural capabilities of each sculpture can be turned on or off; the electronic components and speakers can function or not. What remains constant in the works on view in Energy States are grid-based compositions that explore processes and materials through repetition, layering, reflection, and transparency.