I was extremely taken aback by the artist that showed us around Eyebeam. Most significant out of the two works she had done in the exhibit, I was extremely interested in the "Gentrify" tape that was intended to be used to "rope off" areas that were being gentrified, in hopes of de-gentrifying them. The artist, Geraldine Juarez, allows the tape to be distributed by anyone, virtually, in any amount.
As a New Yorker my entire life, issues of gentrification and urban planning have always fascinated me. The idea of performing acts of social commentary through art in such a public space really interested me and sparked my curiosity.
Aesthetically, it is a very catchy piece. One is frequently drawn to "Caution" tape, aware that something had occurred in the space that is being roped off and wanting to know "why"? The fact that there is a parallel being made by "cautioning" and "gentrifying" is a really important and interesting concept to ponder.
I also found that it went along very nicely with the entire aura of Eyebeam which really excited me. Everything had an important meaning behind it: Juarez's other piece that we saw, a money-donation machine instillation, was taking a look at issues of philanthropy and what it means to give to the arts without "getting" anything out of it. The t-shirt design center was not only a chance for gallery goers to interact with art, but also helped AIDS research. And this idea of the art being meaningful is also seen in the space itself, very communal and innovative.
1 comment:
Hi
The exhibition you write about was not Untethered but called Other Options, curated by Incubate. There are two shows on at Eyebeam at the moment! (Perhaps change your blog post heading?)
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