A featured artist project with:
Arthur Aviles, Jill L. Conner, Barry Frier, Bibbe Hansen, Geoffrey Hendricks, Jim Hubbard, Stephen Kent Jusick, Stephen Lack, Agosto Machado, Stefani Mar, Liz McGarrity, Lucia Maria Minervini, Angelo Monaco, Augustmoon Ochiishi, Uzi Parnes, Dennis Redmond, Hunter Reynolds, Charles Rice-Gonzalez, Rob Roth, Edward Rubin, Rafael Sánchez, Arleen Schloss, Gervaise Soeurouge, Sur Rodney Sur, Chris Tanner, Brad Taylor, Gail Thacker, Jack Waters, Kathleen White, Brian "Soigne" Wilson, and Stephen Winter
The Center For Book Arts: 28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor, NYC 10001
On view: January 18 – March 31, 2012 (Monday–Friday: 10am–6pm, Saturday: 10am–4pm)
Reception: Wednesday, January 18, 7-9pm
Artist Talk w/ Edwin Ramoran on role models and intergenerational dialog: Wed, March 21, 6:30pm
The Center For Book Arts is excited to present Ethan Shoshan’s featured artist project, Strange Birds. This project encompasses vignettes into people’s lives through objects that hold significant personal meaning to them. Through each object on display, a conversation with its caretaker begins; visitors have the freedom to peruse the objects and listen to an accompanying audio guide conversation. It is through these stories that we connect and engage with the person behind the story and gain insight and an intimate connection to something deeper within ourselves. From Bibbe's relationship with her mom through gathering stones to a realization of home in acceptance of every moment as "perfect," to SKJ's first projector providing the construction of personal and social resources that help shape his creative community. A new inspired look at timeless portraiture, weaving together personal archives and institutional archives, forgotten histories, memories, and embodied experiences in a testament and an affirmation of life and its lessons.
DOWNLOAD STRANGE BIRDS PAMPHLET W/ESSAY HERE
DOWNLOAD Review in Chelsea Now Magazine by Scott Stiffler March 7-20, 2012
DOWNLOAD Review in the Center For Book Arts Blog by Christina Squitieri February 15, 2012
THIS ACCOMPANYING ONLINE ARCHIVE OF THE STRANGE BIRDS EXHIBITION CONTAINS 31 CONVERSATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF 6 MONTHS WITH PEOPLE I MET ABOUT AN OBJECT, PLACE, OR IDEA OF IMPORTANCE IN THEIR LIFE. EACH CONVERSATION IS APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES LONG AND THE EXHIBITION CONTAINS OVER 5HRS OF MATERIAL TO EXPERIENCE. IN ORDER TO GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE/STORY/PORTRAIT, I SUGGEST A GOOD WAY OF EXPERIENCING THIS ARCHIVE IS TO SELECT 2-3 OBJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT AND LISTEN TO THE AUDIO LINK IN ITS ENTIRETY. PLEASE DO NOT STOP A CONVERSATION MIDWAY. FEEL FREE TO CHOOSE MORE OBJECTS IF YOU HAVE TIME, OR COME BACK AGAIN.
GERVAISE SOEUROUGE
On Open Doors
Decoupage suitcase
Courtesy of the caretaker
STEPHEN LACK
High on Ray, Revelations of Perversity
Ray Singing, 1967 (photo sequence)
Courtesy of the caretaker
CHARLES RICE-GONZALEZ
On Ganesh and Self Love
Picture of Ganesh
Courtesy of the caretaker
RAFAEL SÁNCHEZ
On the Pursuit
Cuban passport c.1960, book: Marie Curie
by Eve Curie w/ copper leaf by Rafael Sánchez,
and photo document
Courtesy of the caretaker
DENNIS REDMOND
On Taking a Stand
Another Mother for Peace pendant
and poster (in bathroom)
Courtesy of the caretaker
LUCIA MARIA MINERVINI
Working on Self, the Juice or the Milk
Small ceramic plate w/ gold rim and lettering
Courtesy of the caretaker
AGOSTO MACHADO
On Seeing in the Dark
Glow-in-the-dark rosary beads
Courtesy of the caretaker
STEFANI MAR
Tuning on a Cellular Level
Artley sterling silver flute and case,
serial #24341
Courtesy of the caretaker
JACK WATERS
Reflecting on the Possibilities of Infinity
Circular train mirror (photo)
SUR RODNEY SUR
A Book with its Cover
Paperback book,
A Race is a Nice Thing to Have
Courtesy of the caretaker
GEOFFREY HENDRICKS
On Consciousness
Ring Piece, 1971, sealed wooden box
with gold ring and 12 brass bells
Courtesy of the caretaker
BIBBE HANSEN
On Perfect Stones
Stones, rocks, pebbles, shells
Courtesy of the caretaker
ANGELO MONACO
Picturing the Riddle
Framed postcard
Courtesy of the caretaker
GAIL THACKER
On Trust
Wood magic box w/ materials
Courtesy of the caretaker
BRIAN “SOIGNE” WILSON
On Miss Confidence
Miss Piggy trouble doll
(a gift from his soulmate Brad)
Courtesy of the caretaker
HUNTER REYNOLDS
On Saving the Destruction
Architectural artifact, retrieved from rubble of
The First Methodist Church in Los Angeles on
May 23, 1983 and signed by Al Cuthbert on May 23, 1923
From the Hunter Reynolds Papers; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University
UZI PARNES
On Vessels of Light
Urn with Jack Smith’s ashes (photo)
STEPHEN KENT JUSICK
On Personal and Social Resources
Elmo GS1200 Super8 projector
Courtesy of the caretaker
JIM HUBBARD
On Doing It
Jim with film processor (2 photos)
Top: Courtesy of Jim Hubbard, 1985
Bottom: Courtesy of Caleb Smith, Moviate, 2011
STEPHEN WINTER
On Transfiguration and Retribution
Gold cross pendant
Courtesy of the caretaker
AUGUSTMOON OCHIISHI
Between Celluloid and the Sea
Stamped envelope that contains autographed photo postcard of Horst Werner Buchholz sent from West Germany to Japan in 1962. Address penciled vertically over original blue ballpoint pen alphanumeric address in Japanese Kanji by postmaster. On the back, H. Buchholz's address in blue ballpoint pen ink.
Courtesy of the caretaker
ROB ROTH
Interactive Hub of Inspiration
Piece of wood from Jackie 60 stage
Courtesy of the caretaker
LIZ MCGARRITY
On Buried Signs and the Roaring 20’s
Vintage political button c.1926
Courtesy of the caretaker
EDWARD RUBIN
On Getting It Right the Next Time
Personal journal 1998
(from a collection of journals, 1980 – )
Courtesy of the caretaker
KATHLEEN WHITE
On Possession
BARRY FRIER
On Graduating with Integrity
Laminated diploma on wood
Courtesy of the caretaker
ARTHUR AVILES
On Form and Vibrance
Movie trading cards (1977-1979)
Courtesy of the caretaker
ARLEEN SCHLOSS
A to Z, Do What U Love
Letter A out of wood and metal
Courtesy of the caretaker
JILL L. CONNER
On Social Theater and Habits of Life
Theater of Dionysus, Athens Greece (photo)
CHRIS TANNER
On Escargot and Spiraling Towards Center
Snail shaped glass Avon bottle
Courtesy of the caretaker
BRAD TAYLOR
On Being Buck
Deer antlers
Courtesy of the caretaker