Tracing the Unseen Border is an exhibition curated by Ian Cofre and Omar Lopez-Chahoud that takes a look at the dynamics surrounding the border between Mexico and the United States. Each of the participating artists critically engages questions about this imaginary line, some as a representation of the actual physical space that separates both countries, and yet is unseen by a large part of the nations’ populations. Others turn their focus to the social, political, and economic implications affecting those who are determined to cross it. Collectively, the artists begin to expose the broader context in which there has been a move to obscure the border. This tendency coincides with a political discourse and policies that have shifted to border security, immigration reform, and protectionism. The artists’ works will help reveal and unravel the interconnectedness of this contemporary landscape to those who may feel far removed.
Participating artists:
Alberto Borea, Monika Bravo, Tania Candiani, caraballo-farman, Sergio de la Torre, Blane De St. Croix, Ricardo Gonzalez, M & X, Teresa Margolles, Tom McGrath, Irvin Morazan, Richard Mosse, Alex Rivera, Javier Tellez, Patricia A. Valencia, Ishmael Randall Weeks, and Judi Werthein.
Ben Frost, Daniel Bjarnason, Sinfonietta Cracovia with film manipulations by Brian Eno & Nick Robertson (Photos: Stephen Cardinale for Unsound Festival)
It has been a highly provocative and musically charged past week and a half. For those who have been following Artcards Review, I’ve been covering Unsound Festival 2011 here in NYC since its opening on April 1st. And yesterday was the final wrap up of an entire week and a half of experimental music and sonic arts events. The shows were aesthetically diverse and seemed to have opened up new pathways for a lot of local sound art enthusiasts. Besides igniting interest through cross-cultural collaborations, audiences also got a chance to get a closer look at the artists’ practices through “conversations” during Unsound Labs. In retrospect, Unsound 2011 seemed to have a much less focus on electronic music per se, with a more diverse palette on genres ranging from Iceland’s Ben Frost and Sinfonietta Cracovia, to Lustmord and Deaf Center, both deep, dark, and ambient in its own ways, to the Bunker nights of techno music to the finale disco party by local hosts Kiss & Tell. Even though I wanted to attend it all (trust me, I penciled it all in my calendar), I would not have been able to write this recap if I did. But apparently Stephen Cardinale, Unsound’s official photographer shot through the entire week of events, and here it is below. Continue Reading More »
Friday, April 8, “Dear Japan We Love You” opened at OPENHOUSE GALLERY on 201 Mulberry Street NYC, another great silent auction benefit curated by our friends Tanya Arakawa Rosenstein, Will Robins, and Foundation World. There was something for everyone with a focus on urban art, and people were quick to scribble in their bids hoping to snatch up pieces by David Ellis, Kenzo Minami, Shepard Fairey, Swoon and more at a 10th of the market value. A painting by Jose Parla was going for $5,500!
From the producers:
3.11 Project was conceptually created by Yuko Arakawa, one of the producers, who was motivated to start this project because she is from the prefecture of Fukushima in Japan. Her hometown is only 70 miles away from the Nuclear Power Plant, and she is heartbroken by this devastating disaster that has affected her place of origin and her family. Instead of feeling helpless, she is compelled to find a way to give back to her country and to her community. 3.11 is an on-going project that will continue to strive not only to raise money, but to raise awarenes for the victims of northern Japan that were affected by the Tsunami, Earthquake, and Nuclear Radiation.
100% proceeds of all projects we produce will be donated to Japan Earthquake Relief Fund via Japan Society.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 6th 2011 – UNSOUND FESTIVAL NEW YORK: OPENING NIGHT
Music for SOLARIS(North American Debut) a tribute to the novel “Solaris” by Stanislaw Lem. Composed for twenty‐nine string players, two percussionists, prepared piano, guitars and electronics. Performed by BEN FROST (Iceland/Australia), DANÍEL BJARNASON (Iceland), SINFONIETTA CRACOVIA (Poland) with film manipulations from BRIAN ENO / NICK ROBERTSON (UK)
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI (Poland) performed by SINFONIETTA CRACOVIA (Poland) STEVE REICH (USA) performed by SINFONIETTA CRACOVIA (Poland)
PRESENTED BY: Unsound Festival New York, Sacrum Profanum, The Adam Mickiewicz institute, Krakow Festival Office, the Polish Cultural Institute in New York and the Goethe-Institut New York @ Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 1941 Broadway, New York, NY
(All images courtesy of Unsound Festival New York)
Unsound Festival NY 2011 kicked off with Unsound Labs and Collaborations last week, giving us a first taste of what is coming for the major events happening this week. This year, underexposed artists from Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland will all feature during Unsound Festival New York alongside artists from USA, Germany, Austria, England, Spain, Switzerland and Argentina. Full schedule of events here.
All photos by Stephen J Cardinale for Unsound Festival New York
Terry Pender at Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center
A small explosive event happened yesterday, as French conceptual artist Sophie Calle rolled into California College of Arts to give a talk about using photography as a medium in her work. “In her conceptual projects, Calle immerses herself in examinations of voyeurism, intimacy, and identity. In the process of secretly investigating, reconstructing or documenting strangers’ lives, Calle manipulates situations and individuals and often adopts guises. Thus in the act of pursuing a stranger to Venice, or taking the position of a hotel chamber maid to surreptitiously observe the guests, Calle conditions and recasts her own identity for that period of time. The documents or so-called evidence that results from these conceptual projects are presented as photographs, photo-text installations, and bookworks.
Calle’s works often focus on the nature of desire and on the relationships between the artist/observer and the objects of her investigations, as in her sole video project Double-Blind. Produced in collaboration with Gregory Shepard, this conceptual road movie was released theatrically in Europe as a feature film, entitled No Sex Last Night.”
Unfortunately, I’m on the east coast and couldn’t attend, but there are plenty of shouts published on Tumblr.
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