A couple of shows due to open here soon have locomotion on the brain. Here’s the up down spin around scoop:
A Declaration of Necessity for the Public Good at Temple
Seattle environmental- artist Buster Simpson comes to Temple Gallery this week to make chairs. Not just any chairs, but Windsor chairs like the ones used by Ben, George and the rest when they signed the Declaration of Independence. (top image)
Simpson will be building chairs onsite in a “workshop” downstairs in the gallery. Upstairs will be a “showroom” of finished products. Here’s the kicker. The chairs will be made from recycled wooden pallets. Now I for one cannot imagine an elegant Winsdor cobbled together from those warehouse staples made from scrap wood, so I’m totally intrigued. The whole thing’s about participation in democracy. Where’s your seat at the table?
Simpson will work in the gallery September 9 – 14. He will give a lecture on his work and on the project on Wednesday, September 8, at 11 a.m. in President’s Hall on the Tyler School of Art campus in Elkins Park.
Video movements at Moore
Moore College grad Janet Biggs (BFA 1982) comes to her alma mater November 12 to December 17, 2004 to show new and recent video installations like this one. (image is still from single channel video “Bright Shiny Object,” 2004).
A quick review of the artist’s website indicates she’s mucho interested in motion — wrestling, swimming, horses and other active locomotion-rich activities.
Float and dream at the Fabric Workshop
And for something a little dreamier (a lot dreamier?) Yinka Shonibare‘s “Space Walk” (detail shown, image by Aaron Igler) claims the heavens for his people. The piece, which includes two astronauts and a space ship, was made in collaboration with the FWM where Shonibare has been a resident artist.
And for floating inside your head, take a walk with Laura Owens courtesy of her lovely embroidered silk prints (also made in collaboration at the FWM). The translation of Owens’ trademark forlorn landscape imagery into elegant, tapestry-like cloth works is a great marriage of style and materials.
Both the Owens and the Shonibare exhibits open Sept. 8. (image by Aaron Igler is Owens’ untitled piece measuring a very large 69.5″x50″)
