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Stephanie Davenport
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617 498 0100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cambridge, MA (Mar 10, 2004) - This fall at Art Interactive, visitors will try on new ideas about the creative intersection between art, fashion, and design at the exhibition Pattern Language: Clothing as Communicator. Organized by Boston-based independent curator Judith Hoos Fox, Pattern Language will investigate clothing as a means to express and fulfill primary human needs, needs of the mind, body and soul. The group exhibition features works by established and emerging artists who use the interaction of clothing, fabric and the body as a form of communication and as a way of suggesting new relationships between individuals and the coverings that protect, occlude and redefine their bodies. Pattern Language will be on view at Art Interactive between August 20 and October 31, 2004, and will then travel to additional venues in the United States and abroad.
The exhibition represents guest curator Fox’s ongoing interest in art as a reflection of, signpost for, and critique of culture. As she explains: “It’s exciting to make connections between fashion and art, and art and design across generations of artists; to bring together the work of ethnically and culturally diverse artists; and to show work that involves cutting-edge technologies as well as couture tailoring.” In addition to drawing on her own inspirations, Fox invited Galya Rosenfeld, an American-Israeli clothing designer currently teaching at California College of the Arts, to be a fashion consultant to ensure that the exhibition represents and responds to innovations and real issues in the fashion world.
The works in Pattern Language, which are either unique or editioned rather than mass-produced, include historical examples, contemporary objects and new proposals, as well as interactive and wearable editions, some commissioned specifically for this project. An exhibition design team will transform the gallery space, creating a stimulating environment for visitors to view a variety of garments, accessories, and documentary videos. In keeping with Art Interactive’s innovative mission, there will be several works that invite viewer participation.
The installation will highlight a range of important themes explored by these artists: Our need for shelter, social connections, protection, and entertainment; and our impulse for self-expression.
Works by new and emerging artists and designers will be shown in the context of works by renowned artists. The expressive felt mittens of Hope Ginsburg will be shown with Joseph Beuys’s “Felt Suit,” a 20th-century emblem of Everyman. Vito Acconci's “Leaf Shirt” and Alba D'Urbano's “The Immortal Tailor” conflate states of dress and undress with garments that simulate nudity. Emily Sontag's “Second Skin” slyly critiques the lengths we will go to acquire designer bodies.
A feminist interpretation informs Mimi Smith’s “Maternity Dress” from 1966 and a Dior-inspired, dog-bite-proof gown by Alicia Framis, centerpiece of Holland's pavilion at the recent Biennale in Venice. Works by The Art Guys, Patrick Killoran, and Rosemarie Trockel address serious subjects with humor: the role of economics in our existence, our sublimated desires, and the demanding pressures of the world we live in.
Two iconic artists will be represented by video. Yoko Ono's 1966 performance of “Cut Piece” will be shown. Award-winning artist and MIT professor Krzysztof Wodiczko's interactive sculpture-computers imagine a means of mediated communication for non-English-speaking or socially shy people. His work will be the subject of a video by documentary filmmaker Paul Stern commissioned for this exhibition.
Visitors will be able to try on or create garments, including Studio 5050’s “Love Jackets,” Patrick Killoran’s “Insight,” a t-shirt that doubles as a camera obscura, and Megan Galbraith’s “Scribble,” which enable viewers to print out one-of-a-kind skirts. Art Interactive has commissioned Mike Arauz to perform his “I AM_______” t-shirt project during the exhibition opening reception. Collaborative artists Puett and Bocanegra will create a new site-specific version of their 1999-2001 “Manhattan Tartan Project,” collecting data from visitors during the exhibition to design a virtual tartan that reflects their demographics.
The ambitious scope and scale of the exhibition underscores Art Interactive’s committment to situating current interactive work within a historical continuum. As Art Interactive director Emanuel Lewin emphasizes: “Pattern Language is exactly the kind of playful and provocative show that we like to present, engaging local audiences both at an intellectual and a physical level, and bringing our visitors into direct contact with the old and the new. It will provide a perfect setting for us to celebrate the gallery’s two-year anniversary.”
• For project descriptions and the complete checklist of participating artists, visit the exhibition website at: www.artinteractive.org/shows/patternlanguage/
A series of education programs will be planned in conjunction with Pattern Language. A free brochure featuring an essay by the curator will be available during the exhibition.
About Art Interactive:
Art Interactive is a non-profit art space founded in 2001. The gallery’s mission is to provide a public forum that fosters self-expression and human interaction through the development and exhibition of art that is contemporary, experimental, and participatory. Opening hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6pm or by appointment. For more information, please email info@artinteractive.org or call 617-498-0100.
