Stay Put Growth
Egan Franks Holzhausen's exhibition, Stay Put Growth, explores memory, routine, and the subtle transformations of daily life. Comprising painted modular panels and objects housed within six individual glass cases, the work invites viewers to engage with fragments of an autobiographical narrative. Each case serves as a microcosm, presenting puzzle pieces that, when considered together, weave a simultaneously mundane and extraordinary story. Laden with vibrant patterns and familiar imagery, Holzhausen's playful approach to art-making encourages open interpretation, allowing viewers to connect with the work in personal and unexpected ways. Since graduating from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2019, Holzhausen relocated from Grand Rapids to a secluded plot of land in Northern Michigan. This shift to a quieter, more isolated life influenced her artistic practice. Stay Put Growth is specific documentation of her time spent in the woods during the pandemic—a period marked by introspection, adaptability, and a deep connection to her surroundings. The works reflect her experience of finding both stability and growth in the act of staying put. Through dynamic compositions echoing nature's rhythms and everyday life, Holzhausen examines the coexistence of stillness and transformation. The modular format of the panels mirrors the fragmented yet interconnected nature of her time in the woods, where moments of solitude were punctuated by observations of subtle shifts in the environment and within herself. Holzhausen's use of recognizable imagery and intricate patterns infuses the work with a sense of familiarity and playfulness. Yet, beneath the surface lies a deeper narrative about resilience, adaptation, and the beauty of embracing the ordinary. Stay Put Growth is a personal reflection and an invitation for viewers to consider the value of slowing down, observing, and finding meaning in their lives overlooked details.