Soooooo much is happening. Been hard at work helping to organize Knit the Bridge the outreach project for the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh's Fiberart International 2013. Knit the Bridge was conceived by our awesome Amanda Gross. Last night we reviewed our time line for this amazing project. We are still working closely with local officials and do not have a confirmed date but we are getting really close!
What exactly are we doing? We plan to cover a bridge in downtown Pittsburgh with knit or crochet a fiberart installation of grand scale commonly known as yarn bombing. Our fabulous graphic designer Martha created this photo so everyone can see what we are all working towards.
There are so many people working night and day on this I am privileged to be part of this project!
I have been thinking about an artists choice of materials. What got me thinking about it was reading an interview with Rashid Johnson in Art in America. The choice of materials and objects Johnson uses are infused with both personal and social significance. He places them within a formal structure that is often architectural and references the domestic which not only fascinates and entices you to think but the work is drop dead gorgeous (at least on-line I have yet to see in person).
I love the smooth sleek lines and the reflective quality of the material he uses in this work literally with the use of mirrored tiles
or in this with black ceramic tile
He creates the look of an altar. His abstraction is successful because of the symmetry and simplicity of the line against the grid of the tile edges. But there is a tension in the abstraction at the focal point as he breaks the edges with paint. He presents a literal introduction of the hand in contrast to the chosen objects strategically placed or held on shelves.
I admire how he plays with pattern using a zebra skin on an oriental rug. Johnson adds gold embroidery which references the tradition and cultural heritage of rug making.
What's on the wall or on the floor what do we walk up to and see? What do we look down on or walk on? The notion of what is precious what is a status symbol? Examining that which has been taken from other cultures stolen or poached. Johnson shows tension not just in issues of race but class in his choice of objects and how he presents them.
Here is a video clip of him talking about his work:
I was delighted to have Stand! accepted in the 2012 Westmoreland Juried Biennial. The juror was Kerry Oliver-Smith, Curator of Contemporary Art, Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. My first installation and thankfully not far from home.
I completely under estimated how much space it would take to pack up and move. I had to rent a van in the 11th hour. Randy was awesome he was able to assist at a moment's notice.
The size of the installation varies according to venue. The potential number of heads used is 25 - 52. When I saw the number of pieces accepted into the show I guessed that I wouldn't be using all 52 but was prepared to none the less.
Packing them was a challenge. I originally thought I would wrap the stands end to end with a moving blanket but none available big moving day I guess. So I wrapped them in disposable paint cloths. To protect the bases from chipping during travel I thought I would wrap them with thin foam padding also out of stock so I cut up insulation material.
Giant zipper ziploc bags are wonderful for head storage and packing up drop cloths.
The initial unpacking took up a lot of room. I fear the museum staff thought I was going to take up the entire floor! In fact I was putting them together and getting acclimated to the surroundings. I love installing artwork it reminds me of a technical rehearsal in the theater it is quiet, unruly and exciting.
The head count and that is just one table...
Starting to pull them all together. I am used to working in two dimensions so I am still feeling my way around presentation varying the height of each stand plus intermingling the pattern. Not to mention this is the first exhibition for Stand! I anticipate it will change according to venue.
Next the placement of the two onlookers.
Almost there with Barbara Jones, Chief Curator in the background in the shot. I thought I took a photo of her but apparently not oversight on my part. I was a bit overwhelmed with the entire process, wonderfully so and Barbara was helpful and generous with her time. She did a wonderful job installing the show more on that later.
The final shot pre-opening. A total of 32 heads used. A tremendous learning experience from beginning to end.
Oilcloth is not the most forgiving fabric to work with. Pinning it is not an option. Some time ago I received a product update from equilter.com and a very nifty and useful product was listed: Wonder clips.
They looked promising at the time wasn't sure for what. Now I know I use them for piecing together oilcloth.
The problem with oilcloth is if you use a pin the pin perforates the fabric but if you use these clips voila no holes! And they stay clipped even as you manipulate the fabric.
Action shot! The downside is they are not inexpensive but worth the cash for what it saves you in lack of aggravation and damage to the fabric.
It is also handy to have painters tape around to tape oilcloth to the surface you are working on if you don't want it to slip no sticky stuff.
My first installation and it is more sculpture than fiber but fabric based. Basically the project took over our home. Last project I needed help with Norman came to the rescue for sound. For this project my dear friend LInda helped me to head in the right direction. She created the pattern for and made the masks, figured out construction stitched strips together etc. etc. John our carpenter made the star stands.
I started with the idea to cover the styrofoam heads with stars and stripes and republican and democrat fabric. I knew I wanted to make isolation masks from patriotic commercial fabrics. They come later.
I considered many ways of displaying them and then it hit me, stars.
The wonderful thing about living within the city of Pittsburgh is our home is on the route for the Race for the Cure an annual event.
Every year a minimum of 20,000 run or walk by our house it is an amazing sound all those voices chatting, cheering, whatever to support or honor those diagnosed with breast cancer. I look forward to it every year.
You see every shade of pink, the young and old, some with their pets, folks of all types.
Usually we see someone we know not true this year but it was warm enough to sit and watch everyone go by.
