Exploring a ‘World of Dreams’

Davie exhibit provides a ‘magical experience’

Patrons can let their imaginations run wild in Leah Brown’s “Transformation of Echo: World of Dreams.”

The sculptural wonderland is on display through Jan. 3 at Young At Art Museum in Davie. It features painted figures and a host of other cloaked white creations that form the space’s riverbanks and landscapes. A bridge takes you to the other side of the installation with more spell-binding scenes.

Each character stems from the Fort Lauderdale artist’s dreams. She didn’t want to explore them as interpretive symbols, but rather for their own selves. This includes insight of who a focal point like Echo, a deer that has her head swapped with a human, is. There are various incarnations of figures, including a bear, cougar and other animals.

“I was excited to do this installation here, where it can be appreciated by children,” Brown said. “How often do you wake up from a bad dream when you are little where parents say not to worry and it’s not real? They say it’s just a dream. That’s really discrediting and taking away from the human experience a bit.

“… Within the context of the dreams, it has all of the traits of being real. … Who knows what you can learn from it, but it’s there, so it may as well be explored.”

The painted sculptures are the aware dreamers, made of clay sculpture and body-casting found objects and unified by a mold-making process. The landscape is burlap with plaster over these people inspired by museum staff. The reflective mirror mylar creates a unique environment and the look of ripples on the water.

Patrons can enter the display two different ways and exit through a slide. Brown compares this to a falling dream and suddenly waking up. Before entering the exhibit, patrons are given a hint of what to expect through “Drifting Off.” The giant head is a func-

tioning boat and has been displayed in water with her face down.

“My work is about trying to get a greater understanding of the dreaming mind,” Brown said. “… We are walking through a space designed to mimic the experience of dreaming. My work is one big story that keeps growing. So the more I add to it, the longer the narrative will become.”

Mindy Shrago, the museum’s executive director and CEO, is excited about the exhibit.

“This is a unique and magical experience that al- lows our visitors to see the world through the artist’s lens,” she said.

For more information, call 954-424-0085 or visit YoungAtArtMuseum.org.