August 1-30, 2025
The Bells Gallery is pleased to present Alexandra Rose‘s (they/them/theirs) solo exhibition “Did you eat?” “Did you eat?” is a question Rose longed to hear from their grandmother, though she was better known as Grandma No Ice Cream, the kind of woman who handed out a single Kraft cheese slice that had to last eight hours. Tough as the stale orange gummy candies in her crystal dish, she wasn’t one for indulgence — unless you count her frozen Virginia Slims.
Through humor and reverence, Did You Eat? honors the familial rituals that shape our sense of belonging and the bodies that carry these stories. It reflects on the small moments — meals shared, jokes made, recipes handed down, and judgments passed — as well as the unresolved tensions of care withheld and care given.
The exhibition holds space for the contradictions food carries: guilt, restriction, and stigma, alongside the quiet joy of splitting an orange with someone you love. These works examine the complexity of being a fat, queer person who learned to resent their body by watching their mother struggle to love hers. It is a testament to the insecurities we inherit—and the ongoing journey to love the body as the home that holds us.
Love, shame, and survival are passed down in what we eat — and what we don’t — and food becomes the language of legacy.
Artist Statement
Alexandra Rose is an intermedia artist whose creative process is a therapeutic ritual that explores the perpetual evolution of the authentic self. While Rose’s work spans various disciplines, they are drawn to metal in sculpture and photography, captivated by the transformative qualities inherent in these processes. The interplay of positive and negative within mold-making and photo development holds a particular fascination, embodying a balance of control and surrender that resonates deeply with the artist. Rose is interested in metal’s capacity for metamorphosis—from rigid to soft, invisible to visible, and fluid to hardened—and relates to this material’s duality as a gender-fluid maker. Utilizing labor-intensive processes and reflective storytelling, their artworks often center on the body as a vessel for understanding life’s experiences, whether through representational depictions or objects evocative of bodily forms. Their work demonstrates the transformative power of self-expression and reflection in shaping narratives of identity and belonging.
ABOUT
In July of 2025, Alexandra Rose began a two-year foundry apprenticeship at The Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. From 2022 to 2025, Rose worked as an Artist-in-Residence at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL, where they taught four seasons of the summer youth apprenticeship program, participated in almost weekly iron pouring demonstrations, led cyanotype and pewter workshops, and assisted in blacksmithing, welding, and casting workshops. During their time with Sloss Metal Arts, they exhibited their first solo show, “I Was Here: A Personal Archive in Iron,“ and participated in multiple group shows, including “Scale,” which they helped curate, and “Confluence” at Lowe Mill in Huntsville, AL. In 2023, they were the recipients of an education grant from the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths and a scholarship for F.I.R.E. at the Metal Museum.
From 2019 to 2021, they worked at Artworks Foundry as a Production Assistant, which included serving as mold librarian, wax chaser/pourer, a member of the bronze pouring team, ceramic shell technician, mold maker, and general laborer on various special projects. In 2021, they also worked at The Crucible in Oakland, CA, as the mold-making and foundry TA. During the summer of 2021, they completed a month-long internship at Sculpture Trails, where they installed Stripped in the Outdoor Museum’s collection. Rose served on the 2021 Steering Committee for the National Conference on Cast Iron Art and Practices, co-organizing panels and presentations. In 2019, they received their Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts, where they majored in studio arts with an emphasis on bronze casting and historical chemical darkroom photography.
Introduction to Pewter Casting with Alexandra Rose
$110/person
RSVP: thebellsgallery@gmail.com
Explore the art of metal casting in this hands-on, 3-hour pewter casting class. Perfect for beginners, you’ll learn how to design a pattern, create a mold, and transform molten pewter into your unique creations. Feel free to bring small items that you’d like to incorporate into your design! Pewter, a lead-free alloy of tin, bismuth, and copper, is ideal for newcomers due to its low melting point, making it easy to cast without the need for a traditional foundry.
The class begins with an overview of mold preparation, essential tools, and safety protocols. You’ll then watch a live demonstration of melting pewter in an electric crucible, followed by pouring the molten metal into your prepared molds. Once the pieces have cooled, we’ll review the castings together, address common issues, and explore finishing techniques such as cleanup and applying a patina for a polished final result.
At the end of the session, we’ll set aside time for questions and additional tips to help you continue your journey in metal casting.