A statement from the curator
More than most other things -- including the use of light -- it should be noted that this exhibition has a lot to do with call and response. Everything about this show was developed via a back-and-forth, so it was exciting to watch it come together. Back-and-forth interactions happened between the trusting building owners, our collaborators, and myself. Back-and-forth interactions happened between the artists, the space and what could actually work for the exhibition. And when boiled down, everyone involved was called upon to step into the realm of the unknown and their unique responses have produced something we all are quite proud of.
We've challenged ourselves to create something new here. From a curatorial standpoint, figuring out how to help the artwork shine in such an unfamiliar space was my biggest challenge. Imagine walking into a vast, 9,000 sq foot space -- which happened to be under construction at the time -- with only a few months to figure out how the space "worked," much less conceptualize a show and pull together the creative talent to make it all speak volumes.
Still, the artists are who should be applauded. They were pushed. Of the five large-scale pieces that fill the space, only one had been shown before; but even that one was completely reworked and redesigned to fit this new environment we were placing it into. In other words, every piece of work created for this show was brand new. And for the most part, the participating artists were not only given an extremely tight deadline, they were asked to think much bigger than they were used to. Pieces had to be reworked on the fly as the were being installed. Pieces had to fill the space to keep the show cohesive -- the smallest piece is over seven feet tall. Essentially, when in the space, it feels as if the artists set out to impress themselves, so I hope their successful efforts are appreciated.
Conceptually, there's not much to add. This remains a fairly straightforward, non-aggressive exhibition. It started with a simple question I asked myself and those involved: "How many ways can we 'play' with light on a large scale to create a cohesive & unique experience?" Pulling in a bit of interactivity was the first goal. Balancing the way each use of light helps viewers travel amongst the space was the second.
We hope to see you at the closing reception on October 3rd, so you can see how it all came together.
"Face-book" it
HERE.
~ Jonathan Sears // Curator of Light Strikes