If you like the train that looks fast but goes slow, aka Accela, or prefer the Chinatown buss, make your way down to Philly, get a hot pretzel and catch the new show at the ICA @ UPENN. Why? Well for one it includes many artists which LMCC has worked with and will continue to work with, for another, it displays the kind of practice that we support and / or get roped into--one of our curators is a contributing writer via Red76, and later will play Trotsky in a public performance--and depending where your priorities lie, it'll be fun.
Locally Localized Gravity
January 20 - March 25, 2007
"Locally Localized Gravity" is both an exhibition and a program of events. Its focus is the phenomenon of artists working as producers. From running exhibition spaces to organizing music and performance events, to publishing 'zines and books, these artists do it all. The show is catalyzed by Philadelphia's artist-run scene-its abundant art schools and affordable real estate contribute to a do-it-yourself ethos-but includes artists from other cities working in a similar spirit. Their practices are social, participatory, communal, and the consequent energy created is provocative and generous. Such ways of working are often youthful, even tribal in spirit, and find artists banding together to tap into shared resources and inspiration.
To create an exhibition about artists-as-producers, eight artists and artists' groups have been invited to create installations that will play host to special events. Each has created an installation that characterizes how they operate in the art world. The in turn have invited others: during its run, "Locally Localized Gravity" will feature over 100 artists, musicians, lecturers, performers, writers and many other creators. Many of the groups will use ICA as their base of operations during the show, essentially using the gallery as a satellite location. Each group has programmed events, from multimedia performances to planting demonstrations, solo artist exhibitions to film screenings. Over the course of ten weeks, January 20 - March 25, 2007, the gallery will host over 75 events of all kinds. Viewer participation required.
Participating Artists
Black Floor Gallery (Philadelphia) is an artist-run gallery in operation since January 2005. At ICA, they will create a portable likeness of their now locally famed Black Floor Gallery for one-day exhibitions, as well as concerts and movie days. This moveable platform, complete with tow rope, wheels, clamp lights, extension cords, and electrical plugs, will be the springboard for a variety of Black Floor events: A "very Black Floor" opening party on the platform will include the rock band Japanther and dopplegangers of the six Black Floor members. During the run of "Locally Localized Gravity" several "one day" exhibitions will take place in which one artist puts up one piece for one day. Still other events may include a craft fair, a record swap and a video showcase by artist David Dunn. Black Floor is: Carrie Collins, Jamie Dillon, Gerik Forston, Annette Monnier, Nick Paparone and Elsa Shadley. www.blackfloorgallery.com
LURE (Lighting for Urban Rooftop Environments) (Philadelphia) is programmed by Aaron Igler and brings artists, musicians and performers together for special, often outdoor, events. At ICA's Tuttleman Terrace, LURE will present a project series titled "Sweet Green Hangout." Working with over 13 collaborators LURE will create a functioning solar greenhouse. The greenhouse, assembled from recycled building materials, will act as a fertile propagation center for the development and presentation of artist projects, performances and workshops throughout the course of the exhibition. Collaborators include: Kate Abercrombie, Shannon Bowser and Clint Takeda; Kelly Cobb, Pablo Colapinto and Peter Flaherty, Joy Feasley and Paul Swenbeck, Michael Gibbons, Richard Harrod, Luren Jenison, Xana Kudrjavcev-DeMilner, Tristin Lowe, Brooke Sietinsons, Matthew Suib; Collaborator/Contributors: Greensgrow CSA, Honey’s Sit-n-Eat, Lynch Greenhouses, Biology Department, University of Pennsylvania; Additional participants: Tom Devaney. www.lureprojects.org
basekamp (Philadelphia) is an exhibition space whose primary focus is to participate in the creation, facilitation and promotion of large-scale collaborative projects by contemporary artists. At ICA they will install tables to host a series of talks, conversations and een games that will act as research tools for a larger, upcoming project called "Plausible Artworlds." This project questions how relationships , communities, and structures within artworlds are organized and maintained, with particular emphasis on examining who these artworlds serve and imagining what alternative models might exist. www.basekamp.com
Space 1026 (Philadelphia) is one of the city's most established and well-known collectives. Space 1026 is a gallery and a studio space, a community center and a workshop. For the art community their gallery is a vital exhibition space where one can see the work of emerging artists. At ICA, they will build an ambitious treehouse structure for the display of their 33+ members' work. They will produce many events, including concerts, T-shirt-making workshops and film screenings. Space 1026 is: Adam Crawford, Adam Wallacavage, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Andrew Pierce, Anthony Smyrski, Aryon Hoselton, Becky Suss, Ben Woodward, Caitlin Emma Perkins, Clint Woodside, Courtney Dailey, Hanif O'Neil, Holly Gressley, Isaac Lin, Jake Henry, Janet Lee, Jason Hsu, Jayson Scott Musson, Jeff Wiesner, Jesse Goldstein, Jesse Olanday, Jodi Rice, John Freeborn, Jonathan Finnegan, Justin Myer Staller, Katie Kent, Lindsey Mears, Liz Rywelski, Mark Price, Mary Chen, Matt Kosoy, Maximillian Lawrence, O.Roman Hasiuk, Ryan Thacker, Ted Passon and Thom Lessner. www.space1026.com
Matt Bakkom (Minneapolis) works at the fringes of art- and event-making. His work often plumbs public archives, from orphaned films to local libraries or complaint letters written to New York City's mayors, bringing them to life through investigations, production, distribution and display. At ICA he will present "Dependence Hall," an open-beam structure that will house five white pines, grow lights, benches and a free publication. At the end of the exhibition, the trees will be planted in an appropriate location in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the work of the Society of Little Gardens, an organization that planted five trees in Philadelphia's Washington Square to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.
.
Red76 (Portland, Oregon) is an organization with a project-based membership. They organize and produce every imaginable type of event from neighborhood tours and lectures in laundromats to temporary restaurants as well as producing small documentation zines for distribution. All of their events are linked by an interest in collectivity, political and social engagement, generosity and even food. Inspired by Philadelphia, at ICA they will produce a project exploring the concept of being a revolutionary in history. Volunteer costumed participants will interact with the public on the streets of Philadelphia in an attempt to determine just what it is that makes a revolutionary. The event itself will be displayed through maps and photos, and visitors will be asked to make revolutionary proposals. At the end of the show, ICA will host Red76 and Lee Montgomery of Neighborhood Public Radio for a special radio transmitter building workshop wherein invited guests will build 5-watt radio transmitters. They will use these to create a collection of low wattage "pirate" radio stations. The workshop will culminate in a weekend long event called "72 Hour Nuclear War." www.red76.com
LTTR (New York) is Ulrike Mueller, Emily Roysdon, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, and K8 Hardy. As a group they form a feminist "genderqueer" artist collective with a flexible, project-oriented practice. LTTR produces an annual independent art journal, performance series, events, screenings and collaborations. At ICA, LTTR will display an archive of journals, posters, ephemera and images from their past events on a reading table. They will also produce a special event on March 23rd. www.lttr.org
Fritz Haeg's Sundown Schoolhouse (Los Angeles), is a catalyst in his city who organizes a well-known event called Sundown Salon. The Salon brings together artists, designers, architects, critics, and others for day-long get-togethers. He has just expanded the idea into a school called Sundown Schoolhouse. A version of the school, housed in a geodesic tent, will come to ICA to become a locus for educational events. A variety of "professors" will be invited to lead classes each Wednesday.
This exhibition is curated by Jenelle Porter, Associate Curator, Elyse Gonzales, Assistant Curator and Naomi Beckwith, Whitney Lauder Curatorial Fellow.
A complete schedule of shows and events along with a free printable PDF catalog will be made available for download on ICA's website.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of ICA's Leadership Circle: Fury Design, Inc.; Meredith & Bryan Verona; Kirk Kirkpatrick & John Wind; Betsy Asplundh; Floss Barber; Ellen and Stephen Burbank; Thomas Callan & Martin McNamara, Emily Chen & Chris Carrera, Georgette Ciukuescu, Denise Creedon; and Stephen Madva; Anthony B. Creamer, III; Paul Curci; Cecily & Christopher D'Amelio; Suzanne Kane and Jeffrey Koopman; The Marketing Audit, Inc; Gabriele W. Lee; Margery P. Lee; Jennifer & Marc Lipschultz; Peter J. O'Dwyer; Paul H. Pincus; Norma and Larry Reichlin; Jennifer Rice & Michael Forman; Jeanne Scandura; Joey and Christopher Schlank; Karen and Howard Weiner; Dina and Jerry Wind; Alexis Berg & Joel Marmar; Bridget Nurock; Alec Rubin & Phillip Chambers; Sandy & Michael Wax; Joan Shepp. Additional funding has been provided by The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Dietrich Foundation, Inc., the Overseers Board for the Institute of Contemporary Art, friends and members of ICA, and the University of Pennsylvania. ICA is also grateful for in-kind support from Loews Philadelphia Hotel. (Information complete as of 1/11/07.)
Images, top to bottom: Fritz Haeg's Sundown Schoolhouse. Red76.
Institute of Contemporary Art | University of Pennsylvania
118 S. 36th St. Philadelphia, PA 19104-3289 | T 215.898.7108 | F 215.898.5050
