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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Art Inside/Outside @ Intermedia Arts
Thursday 30 May @ 16:34:47 |
 by J. P. Johnson
Installation art, for better or for worse, has long baffled the onlooker. When we look at a painting, sculpture or film we know what we are supposed to do—which for the most part is not much.
by J. P. Johnson
Installation art, for better or for worse, has long baffled the onlooker. When we look at a painting, sculpture or film we know what we are supposed to do—which for the most part is not much.
Our duty is simple and is most probably to stand in front of a “visual arts object” shift our weight from one foot to the other and comment intelligently to our friends and neighbors. However, the installation art to be viewed at Intermedia this month requires considerably more involvement.
Standing in front of the gallery wall and saying, “Wow it looks like this person really likes the color green,” will simply not cut it this time.
Inside/Outside consists of five artists. Three of them set up inside, one sets up outside on the sidewalk, and the last one commences operation in the lobby but brings you all over the city.
In the spirit of true audience participation one should start their trip through the exhibition with the confusing and oblique work of Shane Huston. Although not even Intermedia really understands what Huston is getting at with his “Examination room” piece, it is intriguing just the same. Make sure to heavily investigate his room because your experience doesn’t even really begin until you give it some attention.
Emma Spertus and Eric Winesett are the next two on your inside journey. Spertus’ work is one of the more thoughtful installation pieces. Spertus, with her screen prints of buildings in the Lyn Lake area that are now long gone, asks, “What do you miss seeing when you walk down the street? What buildings had meaning for you?”
Next, to participate in Azure Marlowe’s (Outside) work you’ll need a pen and a quarter. Marlowe believes in what he calls “social art” and his art is meant to reveal things about the viewers instead of himself. Marlowe’s “Shopping Project” consists of gumball machines full of those old little plastic cases. One machine holds cases full of birdseed, another “found art” from around the area and the last actual art assignments written on small strips of paper. If you bring a little loose change you can buy yourself all sorts of treasures.
Lastly, for an uplifting fun few moments visit Helena Keefe’s “The 4 and the 21.” In it you’ll get to see Keefe taking an adventure all over the city on the #4 and #21 bus. She turns the bus into a moving social experiment showing us what would happen if we tried to fall asleep on our neighbor’s shoulder, washed the bus windows or changed our spot at every stop. Then you can pick up your very own Keefe handbook to do the same.
Exhibit continues thru June 16. Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave S., Mpls. 612-871-4444.
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