Together Red and Blue Make Purple (Crayons), Paraffin Wax, Colorant, Wood, Chain Links, Glue, 2022, 6ft

THIS WORK IS NOT FOR SALE

Together, Red and Blue Make Purple (Crayons) is an interactive installation that invites visitors to engage in collaborative drawing. Participants must work together to lift and use giant crayons that are intentionally broken and linked back together, making them too heavy for one person to manage alone. This playful challenge encourages teamwork, communication, and persistence, transforming the simple act of drawing into a shared experience. As participants fill large sheets of paper on the floor with colorful, overlapping marks, the drawings are hung on the wall. Over time, the wall transforms into a playful, evolving display—reminiscent of a refrigerator covered with children’s artwork. These layers of marks tell a growing story of interaction and collaboration. Whether participating directly or observing, everyone becomes part of the work. Those who join in discover how shared effort unlocks new possibilities, while observers witness an unspoken language of play emerge through the process. Ultimately, this piece encourages adults to reconnect with curiosity and wonder—reminding us that playful creation is for all ages, not just children.

Cate Solari is an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in New England. Working with sculpture, ceramics, and interactive installations, Cate’s practice playfully engages with materials to explore themes of memory and coming of age. Through tactile experiences, their work aims to rekindle the spirit of playfulness that extends beyond childhood. Recent solo exhibitions include See-Saw Shape at Schumacher Gallery (Middlebury, CT, 2024) and Step into your ALIBI at the Dye and Bleach House Community Gallery (Willington, CT, 2022). Notable group exhibitions include shows at the Lyman Allyn Museum of Art (New London, CT), ArtPort Kingston with the Ely Center of Contemporary Art (Kingston, NY), and Comfort Station (Chicago, IL). Cate has made significant contributions to art education, serving as a Visiting Lecturer at Westfield State University and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut, where they were named Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year in 2022. Cate earned their MFA in Sculpture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 2020. Currently, Cate is developing their next interactive installation at their studio in Manchester, CT, while launching Cate Solari Studios LLC. Through this venture, they offer limited collections of handmade pottery that blend functionality with playful design, as well as art and pottery classes. Learn more at catesolari.com.

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