The Difference Between a Flower and a Weed Is Seeing

Although it’s not uncommon for students to make memorable waves within San Antonio’s art scene, few in recent memory have done so with the concentrated vision and professionalism Iowa native Justin Korver displayed in his MFA thesis show “The Expressive Mark & Other Ideas I Stole from Painting” (exhibited this past summer at UTSA’s offsite gallery Terminal 136). Having previously caught our attention with mixed-media sculpture and installations — frequently challenging gender confines while placing familiar materials and found objects in curious configurations — Korver developed a fairly recognizable aesthetic built around hardware, paint and other supplies one might pick up at a home-improvement store. While there’s enchantment to be found in his monochromatic pegboard assemblages, brilliantly adorned work gloves and everyday tools caked or dripping with layers of paint, Korver’s latest endeavors mark an intriguing shift into softer territory. Evidenced by his Instagram feed, his new solo show “The Difference Between a Flower and a Weed Is Seeing” puts a meditative, almost artisanal spin on a developing body of work from an artist worth keeping an eye on.