Library Street Collective is pleased to announce the gallery’s first solo exhibition with Detroit-based artist James Benjamin Franklin, titled Skipping Stones and opening September 14, 2024. Skipping Stones will present a new series of large-scale paintings featuring organically constructed shapes inhabited by eclectic textures.


Franklin builds his supports by hand, and their unconventional shapes, which have become a hallmark of his work, are symbols of the labor and meticulous care invested in each piece. The paintings featured in Skipping Stones occupy both signature-style frames as well as ones more classical in nature, such as squares or tondos. Still, the symmetry of the latter, more defined forms is disrupted by slight imperfections that allude to Franklin’s value of craftsmanship. The artist’s treatment of his canvases—as not simply foundations but as sculptural works of art in themselves and active agents in production—yields an objectness that challenges traditional boundaries of painting.


This concept is echoed further by Franklin’s approach to his surfaces, which is characterized by a delicate balance of control and uncertainty, where material exploration plays a pivotal role. The compositions are created on the floor then the wall and back again, maneuvering his supports in their ability to house an array of mediums ranging from textiles and sand to water-based gels and acrylic paints. Laying the groundwork with collages of thrifted blankets and rugs—Franklin is particularly drawn to those that have been handmade—, he references the domestic space, evoking feelings of warmth, nostalgia and security.


By abandoning a precious mindset throughout each stage of the process, Franklin allows himself the freedom and mental capacity to truly experiment. "It's this big symphonic process of composing a composition, with many serendipitous moves that happen in the work,” the artist explains. “It's a constant exercise in trust, intuition, knowledge of the material, and chance." A high level of thought and preparation guides each action, and considerations of countless factors, from gravity to the historical attributes of his materials, are a central influence. Although the process is highly improvisational, it is not arbitrary; rather, it is grounded in a systematic method that enables such fluid alchemy to thrive.


James Benjamin Franklin: Skipping Stones is on view from September 14 - October 16, 2024 at Library Street Collective.