Artists Space

Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra

December 13, 2023 – February 17, 2024

Artists Space is pleased to present Zoo or an Orchestra, the first solo exhibition by New York–based artist Char Jeré.

A color image of a gallery space with several works exhibited throughout the room. On the left, a drawing hangs from a wooden wall. A creature-like sculpture made out of papier-mâche sits on top of packs of Comet cleaning powder. On the back wall, a colorful drawing hangs on the white wall. An old metal stove sits on the corner next to some wood. Two columns stand in the middle of the room, and are surrounded by kinetic sculptures made out of a variety of objects like wood, tree branches and construction blocks. In between the columns, two wooden window frames hang from the ceiling. Different scenes painted onto the glass. On the right, a black and white drawing with details on blue hangs on the wall.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a gallery space with several works exhibited throughout the room. On the left, a drawing hangs from a wooden wall. A creature-like sculpture made out of papier-mâche sits on top of packs of Comet cleaning powder. On the back wall, a colorful drawing hangs on the white wall. An old metal stove sits on the corner next to some wood. Two columns stand in the middle of the room, and are surrounded by kinetic sculptures made out of a variety of objects like wood, tree branches and construction blocks. In between the columns, two wooden window frames hang from the ceiling. Different scenes painted onto the glass. On the right, a black and white drawing with details on blue hangs on the wall.]

Jeré considers themselves an Afro-fractalist whose work focuses on the nonlinear temporality created within the African diaspora. Their work across sound, sculpture, filmmaking, and installation centers on the long history and evolving future of the relationship between race and technology. Zoo or an Orchestra, their multisensory project for Artists Space, comprises a dense, multimedia, installation-as-opera in four movements created from both found and archival materials—a reflection on the memories we share with those we’ve only briefly met, others we’ve never met, those who we’ve known for a long time, or the ones we’ve yet to meet.

Color photo of the enterance into the exhibition. A sign reading: "J.D. Grocery" is placed above a doorway. A wooden awning meant to look like a roof of a building goes across the width of the partition wall. The doorway is flanked by a cardboard fire hydrant and a box television on a small wooden chair. Through the doorway, three bar stools and a bookshelf with books and home goods are visable.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of the enterance into the exhibition. A sign reading: "J.D. Grocery" is placed above a doorway. A wooden awning meant to look like a roof of a building goes across the width of the partition wall. The doorway is flanked by a cardboard fire hydrant and a box television on a small wooden chair. Through the doorway, three bar stools and a bookshelf with books and home goods are visable.]
A color photo of the first room in the exhibition. To the left, a wooden high-top bar holds a cash register, a lamp and a book. Three high-top stools are lined up in front of the bar. A large drawing done in BLANK on cardboard hangs above the bar. To the right, a grey metal bookshelf holds books, bags of rice and flour, Wonder bread, toliet paper, q-tips and soap. Next to the bookshelf a yellow produce scale hangs from the ceiling holding bubble wrap. The back wall is painted green, appears like the walls used in construction projects, with a hand-painted sign that reads: Dorothy Porter Wesley: The Negro in the United States, A Selected Bibliography.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photo of the first room in the exhibition. To the left, a wooden high-top bar holds a cash register, a lamp and a book. Three high-top stools are lined up in front of the bar. A large drawing done in BLANK on cardboard hangs above the bar. To the right, a grey metal bookshelf holds books, bags of rice and flour, Wonder bread, toliet paper, q-tips and soap. Next to the bookshelf a yellow produce scale hangs from the ceiling holding bubble wrap. The back wall is painted green, appears like the walls used in construction projects, with a hand-painted sign that reads: Dorothy Porter Wesley: The Negro in the United States, A Selected Bibliography.]
A color photo of an installation and sound work in a gallery space. Wooden tables with black table tops are stacked upon eachother, creating a structure of tables about 20 feet high. The tables are densely packed and populated by a variety of insturments, automated sound objects and other found items such as hair care products and medicine bottles. Behind the stack of tables, a large piece of cardboard hangs on the wall, filled with drawings and collaged elements.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photo of an installation and sound work in a gallery space. Wooden tables with black table tops are stacked upon eachother, creating a structure of tables about 20 feet high. The tables are densely packed and populated by a variety of insturments, automated sound objects and other found items such as hair care products and medicine bottles. Behind the stack of tables, a large piece of cardboard hangs on the wall, filled with drawings and collaged elements.]
Color photo of a installation and sound work. In the right foreground, two lab tables contain a lab equipment such as beakers, distilling chambers, jars, hot plate and two blenders. On the left midground, an antique cabinet with its doors open, reveals shelves and drawers filled with more lab equipment, such as a microscope and household items such as a dustpan. In the background, two box television screens sit on top of wooden lab tables. A posterboard with a periodic table rests on top of the televisions. Each "element" of the periodic table features a small lightbulb that glows.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of a installation and sound work. In the right foreground, two lab tables contain a lab equipment such as beakers, distilling chambers, jars, hot plate and two blenders. On the left midground, an antique cabinet with its doors open, reveals shelves and drawers filled with more lab equipment, such as a microscope and household items such as a dustpan. In the background, two box television screens sit on top of wooden lab tables. A posterboard with a periodic table rests on top of the televisions. Each "element" of the periodic table features a small lightbulb that glows.]
Color photo of an installation work. An antique cabinet with its doors open reveals shelves and drawers filled with household items such as jars, books, herbs, candles, a teapot, a cooking pan, cleaning products and a clock. On the top of the cabinet
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of an installation work. An antique cabinet with its doors open reveals shelves and drawers filled with household items such as jars, books, herbs, candles, a teapot, a cooking pan, cleaning products and a clock. On the top of the cabinet]
Color photo of an installation work in a gallery. On a wooden partition wall in the back of the space, two large carboard drawings hang. To the left, in front of the wooden parition, a paper-mache sculpture is placed on the floor. In the center of the image, ceramic works and kinetic sculptures made of branches surround a structural column. Behind the column, there are more paper-mache sculptures placed on the floor and hanging off the wall. In the right foreground, two windows with images painted on the glass hang from the ceiling.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of an installation work in a gallery. On a wooden partition wall in the back of the space, two large carboard drawings hang. To the left, in front of the wooden parition, a paper-mache sculpture is placed on the floor. In the center of the image, ceramic works and kinetic sculptures made of branches surround a structural column. Behind the column, there are more paper-mache sculptures placed on the floor and hanging off the wall. In the right foreground, two windows with images painted on the glass hang from the ceiling.]
Color photo of an installation work in a gallery. Two windows with images painted on the glass hang from the ceiling. A branch emerges from the left edge of the image. Behind the windows, a colorful drawing on craft paper hangs on the wall.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of an installation work in a gallery. Two windows with images painted on the glass hang from the ceiling. A branch emerges from the left edge of the image. Behind the windows, a colorful drawing on craft paper hangs on the wall.]
Color photo of an installation work in a gallery space. In the left foreground, two windows with images painted on the glass are hung from the ceiling. In the center midground, ceramic sculptures and kinetic sculptures made of branches surround a structural column. To the right of the column, a large paper-mache sculpture rests atop Comet cleaner bottles. In the background, two large drawings done on carbaord hang from a wooden partition wall.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of an installation work in a gallery space. In the left foreground, two windows with images painted on the glass are hung from the ceiling. In the center midground, ceramic sculptures and kinetic sculptures made of branches surround a structural column. To the right of the column, a large paper-mache sculpture rests atop Comet cleaner bottles. In the background, two large drawings done on carbaord hang from a wooden partition wall.]
Color photo of an installation work. A row of structural columns cut through the installation. In the foreground, a kinetic scutlpure featuring a sock being dipped into a pot sit on the floor next to a column. Behind the first column, two windows with images painted on the glass hang from the ceiling. Behind the windows, ceramic sculptures and kinetic sculptures featuring branches surround another column. To the right of the ceramic sculptures and branch sculptures, large paper-mache sculptures rest on the floor and hang on the walls. In the right forground, a large drawing done on craft paper featuring a cow hangs on the wall. In the background, two large drawings done on cardboard are hung from a wooden partition wall.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of an installation work. A row of structural columns cut through the installation. In the foreground, a kinetic scutlpure featuring a sock being dipped into a pot sit on the floor next to a column. Behind the first column, two windows with images painted on the glass hang from the ceiling. Behind the windows, ceramic sculptures and kinetic sculptures featuring branches surround another column. To the right of the ceramic sculptures and branch sculptures, large paper-mache sculptures rest on the floor and hang on the walls. In the right forground, a large drawing done on craft paper featuring a cow hangs on the wall. In the background, two large drawings done on cardboard are hung from a wooden partition wall.]
Color photo of an installation work. A large, paper-mache sculpture of a cow-like creature stands next to a crocheted blanket laid on the floor. On top of the blanket there is a red thermos with two red mugs and a miniature white couch. On the back wall behind the paper-mache sculpture and blanket is a round mirror. The mirror contains a reflection of a large box TV with a static screen. On the left-side background, behind the paper-mache sculpture, two blow-dryers hang from a freestanding metal fixture.
Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Color photo of an installation work. A large, paper-mache sculpture of a cow-like creature stands next to a crocheted blanket laid on the floor. On top of the blanket there is a red thermos with two red mugs and a miniature white couch. On the back wall behind the paper-mache sculpture and blanket is a round mirror. The mirror contains a reflection of a large box TV with a static screen. On the left-side background, behind the paper-mache sculpture, two blow-dryers hang from a freestanding metal fixture.]

The artist Char Jeré merges their background in data science with a passion for social, economic, and environmental justice. Before receiving an MFA in sound art from the Computer Music Center at Columbia University in 2023, Jeré earned an MS in Data Analytics and Visualization from Pratt Institute in 2021.

Char Jeré Exhibition Brochure

Ayewa, Camae. "Char Jeré by Camae Ayewa." BOMB. September 16, 2024. Print & Online.

Exhibition support for Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra is provided by Candy and Michael Barasch, Olivier Beggruen, Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi. Additional in-kind support is provided by River East Elementary School and donateNYC. This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.

Support for Artists Space’s exhibitions and programs is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation, The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, and the Herman Goldman Foundation.

Rose Yates
Ralph Lemon
Elisheva Gavra
Emmy Parker
Jace Clayton
CJ Salapare
C. Spencer Yeh
Leslie Diuguid
Materials for the Arts
Fred Maass
Jerdine Johnson
Frederick Johnson
Sharon Johnson
Pozibelle
Cameron VH
Maggie Boyd
Better Read Than Dead
Lucy Mae Lawson
Charlene Blue Lawson
Beulah Lawson
Elizabeth Collins
Andy Ferro
Meaghan Elyse Lueck

    Black and white drawing of two cows. A tv sits on the floor between them, and a smoke column is seen in the background. A blue piece of tape with the words Moooo hurting is taped on top of the smoke column. A wooden structure, an electronic device, and a small canvas painted in blue with the word River written across it, cover part of the cow drawing on the left.
    Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [Black and white drawing of two cows. A tv sits on the floor between them, and a smoke column is seen in the background. A blue piece of tape with the words Moooo hurting is taped on top of the smoke column. A wooden structure, an electronic device, and a small canvas painted in blue with the word River written across it, cover part of the cow drawing on the left.]