Phantoms emerge when crossing the threshold of Ackerman Clarke; sinewy, strung up bodies extend to the ceiling. In this solo exhibition, Caleb Schroder uses upcycled flannel to stitch and contort space through site-responsive works that contrast the autonomous with the holistic. The forms appear flat at first, yet subtly expand and drape as the viewer moves, revealing sculpted negative spaces that offer glimpses of other works. One sculpture clings to the side wall; one dominates the center like a spider; one anchors the back corner; and two shyly drape along adjacent walls. The work oscillates between intimacy and expansiveness—tiny stitched and beaded details draw viewers in, while the broader composition demands a step back.
“Caleb Schroder”
Through 1/11: Wed–Sat noon–5 PM or by appointment, Ackerman Clarke, 2544 W. Fullerton, ackermanclarke.com/CALEB-SCHRODER
The exhibition explores edges, seams, and the boundaries garments impose on gender-nonconforming bodies—flannel, in this case. Schroder’s artist statement offers insight, noting, “flannel is synonymous with the rugged outdoorsman.” While the forms appear genderless, they decisively traverse binary representation. Wrestling with these edges transforms fiber-craft into an interrogation of gender identity politics. The works feel tender yet grotesquely tense, with moments of cohesion and disarray. They provoke questions: What connective tissues link bodies to environments, and how do garments reflect or deflect identity?
Courtesy Ackerman Clarke
Together, the sculptures form a family of silhouettes and ghosts, but individual pieces sharpen Schroder’s point. In What happens when extremes intermingle? two flannel collars reach for each other, separated by a small gap. Here, fabric becomes the body—absent, frayed, yet reconstructed through sewing.
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