Above: a video look through my packet of art which I brought home. If the embedded video doesn't work see it on YouTube.
Last night I participated in the "None of the Above" collating event at MCBA which was in conjunction with the show of that title—still on display until November 8, 2009. Visit and check out the show in person if you live in the area. There are great pieces from about 143 artists in the gallery, as well as items from private collections providing an historical perspective. Artwork came from artists all over the world.
Left: The assembly line, well at least part of it. Pieces were lined up in a snake along both sides of the bindery tables so that the line could move efficiently along. But of course there was much chatting and many exclamations of delight! (This is early in the process, soon it was so crowded with assemblers that you couldn't see the artwork on the table, hence my use of this photo.) Click on the image to view an enlargement.
The postcard for the show, describes it best:
"Assembling" represents the ultimate in democratic art and was an outgrowth of the Fluxus movement of the 1960s and '70s. Groups of artists—often those active in the mail art community—collaborated to produce compilations of work void of editorial oversight. This exhibition celebrates those independent voices through an historiacl overview of past publications and contemporary examples.
Work on display will be from a variety of public and private collections, curated by 2007 Winter Book co-editor Tom Cassidy and MCBA Artistic Director Jeff Rathermel. A series of Assemblings will be produced by MCBA allowing visitors to see the process in action.
That assembling-in-action is what we did last night! It was a ton of fun. I refer to my envelop filled with art as my "loot" because it contains so many wonderful things!
The performance readings were wonderful, but sadly I only knew one of the performers, Tom Cassidy, and there was a rather rowdy production of some play taking place on the second floor above us so I couldn't hear the introductions of the other performers. Each of the 4 performers did an individual reading/performance and then they ended with a group reading compiled from actual mail art bits and pieces—thought provoking yes, but mostly hilarious.
Support your local arts organizations so that events like this can happen. Get involved. If you don't have a local arts organziation, or even if you do, support MCBA!
