Last year, we kicked off our Year in Art Series with a feature on Kira Wisniewski's and William Bert's CALL+RESPONSE show which dealt with collaborations between writers and artists, creating works that resonate with the other creative medium. The show was an overwhelming success (check out photos from the opening here) and resulted in a lot of good stuff for both the participants and curators:
After last year's show:
- Casey Wiley was published in Big Lucks
- Malcolm Major was commissioned to create a furniture piece inspiried by his piece created for the show
- Wade Fletcher is curating a mini-C+R at GMU Magnolia proposing a C+R class at MICA
- Anthony Dihle is still selling C+R posters at Pleasant Plains Workshop
- Sean Carman is writing a novel based on the piece he wrote for the first show
- Kira and William are continuing to work with Hamiltonian Gallery
as such Kira and William, naturally, decided to return to HAMILTONIAN Gallery this weekend for CALL+RESPONSE 2: TEXTURES with a couple of changes and improvements to the concept:
- 4 pairs of collaborators this year; larger palettes (16 pairs last year)
- a bolder, broader approach: they received an email from a participant asking if she could cut into the walls (no; but they appreciate the realm of possibilities being pushed)
- 5 out of 8 women (one artist is a sister duo)
- There will be (temporary) tattoos at the opening
"We are delighted to be working with Hamiltonian Gallery again and especially with this extremely talented roster of individuals," says Wisniewski.
About the artists:
- TMSisters from Miami: site-specific video, sound, and found item action-installations inspired by philosophy, bass music, and lexicon of Miami imagery.
- Maggie Michael from DC: one of DC's most progressive abstract painters/installation artists, has work in museums across the US. Maggie's work was featured in the Corcoran's Washington Color and Light show, she is a perfect example of how artists should recognize the art historical context that informs their work, but not replicate it - always be pushing the envelope and be new.
- Jon Bobby Benjamin is a Hamiltonian Fellow: makes sculptural installations that rarely utilize found items, but actually replicate them - meticulously hand-carved screwdrivers and wrenches, tiny novels, combined with odd elements such as carved thumbs. Jon creates a feeling of quiet, nostalgia and strange curiosity.
- Amanda Burnham from Baltimore: represented by Dorsch Gallery in Miami, creates drawing installations based on images of disintegrating cities, purposeless spaces (repurposing them), sign architecture, etc, to create moody pictorial landscapes.
- Let me know if you would like more information on these guys! They all are truly amazing rockstar artists!
About the writers:
- Stuart Dybek - Amazing short fiction writer from Chicago. Professor at Northwestern University. A zillion awards including: MacArthur Genius Award, O. Henry Prize and Guggenheim fellow.
- Naomi Ayala - DC Latina poet extradionnaire. Member of the Board of the Directors of DC Advocates for the Arts, teacher at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda and at the Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences at UMASS-Boston. Her third book of poems is scheduled for release by Bilingual Review Press.
- Reese Okyong Kwon – Recent DC transplant. Fiction has appeared all over the place including The Believer and Best American Short Fiction. Recently, she was named one of Narrative’s “30 Below 30” writers.
- Srikanth “Chicu” Reddy – Professor and poet from Chicago. 2005 Asian American Literary Award for Poetry. Several books of poetry under his belt. He said his piece in the show has become an inspiration for his next book.
Overall-Wisniewski notes- we hope that the show generates conversation, connection, and creating bridges between two very fertile artistic grounds. We hope that visitors can take something away from each of the pieces, whether they're accessible or challenging, and that they savor the commonalities between visual art and writing and celebrate the differences. Beyond the run of the exhibit, we hope the seeds are planted for new projects and collaborations.
DON'T MISS IT (and if any show is worth revisiting AFTER opening reception, this is it)
For more information check out: http://www.hamiltonianartists.org/home.php
Previously in BYT Recommends:
- 2/17: ANNOUNCING: BYTs LOCAL TOURIST Kick-Off Party @ the SPY MUSEUM
- 2/16: Preview: Pop Goes the World!
- 2/16: BYT Recommends: Flock of Dimes tonight @ Black Cat
- 2/15: BYT IS HIRING!
- 2/10: PSA: Oscar Movie Catch Up in DC Next Week @ National Geographic
- 2/8: I Believe in a Thing Called the Darkness
- 1/24: Preview: Sockets Records 2012 Showcase
- 1/20: BYT Recommends: DC Jazz Loft's Last Show
- 1/20: Preview + Ticket Giveaway: TROPICAL PUNCH
- 1/19: Que Sera "Easy Angels" Mix
God loves a cheerful giver.
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