What Builds: Durden and Ray Fellows Exhibition

Artists: Luis G. Hernandez, Ben Jackel, Brian Thomas Jones, Alanna Marcelletti, Carolyn Mason, Christopher Mercier, Nano Rubio, Jesse Standlea

Durden and Ray are pleased to present the 2026 Fellows exhibition, What Builds, which centers work from eight emeritus members of the collective, who continue to support this dynamic community. Working across the fluid boundaries of sculpture, painting, and drawing these artists mine both the political and geological strata of Southern California as they layer material and imagery to better unearth how structures around us both foster and frustrate growth. 

Throughout the gallery, a tension persists between rigid supporting systems and the unruly, oozing energy of the materials and ideas they attempt to contain. For some, the constructions on which matter hangs seem up for the challenge, relying on a symbiotic relationship of shared goals and bottom-up support while in others, it’s a matter of time before gravity’s endless pull reduces the tower to a pile. There is strength in numbers, not because of simple arithmetic but because accumulation creates weight and energy, compacting many into one, forming strong foundations on which we can build a more liberated, manifold future.

Durden and Ray Fellows are respected former members of our collective who continue to be affiliated with us, and work to keep our collective strong.