Points of Many Connections
Collaboration with Sandra Mueller
Half the Sky: Intersections in Social Practice Art
Shenyang, China 2014
6.5 feet high x 12 feet in diameter;
tent poles, canvas floor, parachute, organza, cord, yarn, fabric, pens;
2013
This participatory installation, created with Malibu-based artist Sandra Mueller, offered a framework for reflection and connection during the art-based cultural exchange and exhibition, Half the Sky: Intersections in Social Practice Art, I directed through the Women's Caucus for Art at LuXun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China in April 2014. It was juried into the exhibition by Alma Ruiz, Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. The installation draws on the dome as a sacred structure from ancient Rome to contemporary geodesic domes. Covered by a translucent parachute with colorful woven intersections, participants could take refuge in this welcoming space to create a “Journey Marker” symbolic of the many points of connection needed to 'Hold Up Half the Sky."
Sandra and I introduced the project to members of the Women's Caucus for Art at its annual conference in Chicago in February 2014. We gave members an opportunity to share how each of them support their communities or "hold up the sky". We then asked them to write these words, their names, their home towns and/or draw on golden fabric "journey markers", which we took to Shenyang with us.
At the LuXun Academy of Fine Arts, the Points of Many Connections dome stood in the center of the gallery space, between the doors to the side galleries and symbolic of Half the Sky: Intersections in Social Practice Art. Sandra and I repeated these two events we had held in Chicago, with Half the Sky Co-Director Jing Deng translating. Academy students, professors and visitors took turns around the blue fabric "sky" and said out loud their names and what they did in their communities. This time, participants were able to add to journey makers created in Chicago or create new ones. The completed markers were added to a bowl in the center of the dome. Some participants tied their markers from the ceiling. Additional markers were created and added throughout the length of the exhibition.
We heard from participants that they found comfort and inspiration through participation in these events and in sitting in the dome, going through the written comments of others and contemplating how we are all connected. From one of the participants, Fu Qun (art student): Chinese girls can be shy about their thoughts. Sometimes they do have the courage to introduce themselves to others, to tell others what they have done. But these activities give girls a stage to express themselves with more confidence. It changed the way we fell and made us realize that we like to think this way and we like to express ourselves. It can change the quality of our lives. I have never had an experience like this.
Sandra and I introduced the project to members of the Women's Caucus for Art at its annual conference in Chicago in February 2014. We gave members an opportunity to share how each of them support their communities or "hold up the sky". We then asked them to write these words, their names, their home towns and/or draw on golden fabric "journey markers", which we took to Shenyang with us.
At the LuXun Academy of Fine Arts, the Points of Many Connections dome stood in the center of the gallery space, between the doors to the side galleries and symbolic of Half the Sky: Intersections in Social Practice Art. Sandra and I repeated these two events we had held in Chicago, with Half the Sky Co-Director Jing Deng translating. Academy students, professors and visitors took turns around the blue fabric "sky" and said out loud their names and what they did in their communities. This time, participants were able to add to journey makers created in Chicago or create new ones. The completed markers were added to a bowl in the center of the dome. Some participants tied their markers from the ceiling. Additional markers were created and added throughout the length of the exhibition.
We heard from participants that they found comfort and inspiration through participation in these events and in sitting in the dome, going through the written comments of others and contemplating how we are all connected. From one of the participants, Fu Qun (art student): Chinese girls can be shy about their thoughts. Sometimes they do have the courage to introduce themselves to others, to tell others what they have done. But these activities give girls a stage to express themselves with more confidence. It changed the way we fell and made us realize that we like to think this way and we like to express ourselves. It can change the quality of our lives. I have never had an experience like this.