OCTOBER 23 through NOVEMBER 13, 2009
Jack the Pelican is delighted to present Lisa Ludwig's "Art Neighborhood." It's about our neighborhood. But more, it's about building a neighborhood—a new and better one, for all of us.
SHANTYTOWN
This living and organically-evolving shantytown portrait of her/our community is ripe for the time (Hello Recession Creativity 101) and, for art people, a welcome respite from the nastiness of ourselves, without an ounce of cynicism. This is a show for everyone—literally, everyone is invited to participate. Come by and see for yourself how it just keeps growing and growing...
REALLY REALLY: YOU ARE WELCOME!
Ludwig has seeded the project with a dozen play-set situations and nearly fifty of her own action figures. School children, senior citizens and 'professional' artist collaborators have contributed another hundred. These are real people, mostly representing themselves, and in fantasy scenarios that put themselves in charge of their own destinies. ...And you're invited too—Visit theartneighborhood.com and find out how to make (or commission) your own. Everyone is welcome. (For people from afar, if you cannot be on hand to act out your character, there is a network of volunteers who can operate your action figure.)
SCHOOL WOKSHOPS
• Berkeley Carroll Middle School
• Good Shepherd Services at P.S. 32
• Oasis Art and Education Center
CONTEXT
Our art world is usually competitive and insecure and not very friendly or generous to outsiders, especially artists over 40. We indulge children but we don't usually encourage their official participation. We don't even acknowledge old people who make art on weekends. And mostly, we judge each other and don't really have very much fun. (...I'm hoping it's not just me.) Lisa's in a punk band and has been active as an artist in the W'burg underground for a long time. She's been making action figures for years, but never on this epic scale.
WHEN JACK THE PELICAN FELL IN LOVE WITH LISA LUDWIG
Some of you may be surprised how intimate and personal and fun Lisa Ludwig art play can be. In November of 2007, Jack the Pelican was delighted to receive a custom play set, reconstructing the scene of Guy Benfield's performance "Mother Door Spirit Level" that had taken place several days before at the gallery. All the key characters were there in miniature. The whole thing was reduced to its essence. Moving parts (and replacement components) allowed us to replay the performance over and over again, changing it up however we wanted. It was all in cardboard just like this, but it nailed the whole thing and all of us individually. (It too will be on display.)
MUTUAL RESPECT
Imagine that we're all eight-years-old again and we're still us, but we can do anything we want, so long as we respect the golden rule. That's what this is like—a giant, joyful play. Be nice to others. Let them be nice to you.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Every figure is clearly tagged to a real person for easy connection on Facebook. Like that one? How old are they? Right there in the gallery, look them up. Oh, it's Joshua... 10 years old, he wants to be an astronaut.
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO...
The artist's proceeds from commissioned art or art sales from this project go to Making Art Work, a special program of the Carter Burden Center for the Aging. Carter Burden Center for the Aging promotes the well-being of elderly residents through a broad array of direct social services and volunteer programs oriented to individual, family and community needs. Aging Artists are encouraged to continue with their artistic endeavors and we are proud to contribute to the center. Find out more about Carter Burden Center. http://www.burdencenter.org/
THREE SPECIAL EVENINGS
Special scenarios will unfold throughout the exhibition for action figures to express themselves. For more information, visit theartneighborhood.com
- Sunday, November 1
Noon - 6pm
Celebration of The Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos
The Art Neighborhood is celebrating All Souls' Day.
Altars and planters allow you to remember your loved ones and plant seeds for the dead.
- Friday, November 6
7-9pm
An Evening of Performances:
Action Figures come to life in the Art Neighborhood, featuring The Drunkard's Wife
They are known as "The Pants Avengers" in the Art Neighborhood.
"Electro-gypsy band The Drunkard’s Wife is a village wedding and the 1968 Paris student riot rolled into one. They provide beguiling punk bravado, gender politics, disassociation as intimacy, revolutionary fervor, and some dirty dancing. Expect some music made with accordions, brass, and homemade electronics."
—Club freeTime |
Listen to The Drunkard's Wife
- Friday, November 6
7-9pm
Performance by Rebecca Goyette
Painter, sculptress, actress, and Missile Dick Chick.
What do the action figures do all day if they have lobster claws as hands? Come find out...
Check out her work
- Wednesday, November 11, 7-9pm
The Art Neighborhood and Peace
Action figures will stage a stand/sit-in for peace.
Come join us and the NYC Chapter of The Department of Peace as we ponder and embrace the pursuit of peace. Learn more
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Rakien Nomura, Shogun
and collaborators Liz & Val and Craig Flanagin
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit http://www.theartneighborhood.com
Or call Helene DuMenil, 917-499-6304
DIRECTIONS
Visit http://jackthepelicanpresents.com/directions.html |
