4833 rph — Close Encounters

Walter Hood’s Why am I the only black man without a tattoo?, part of the Close Encounters exhibition, investigates the complex concerns of multi-cultural societies. Hood deals with the frees of appropriation versus the politically correct desire for respectful use of sacred traditions. Located in Gallery 1, Hood’s piece forms a tunnel shaped hallway. As visitors pass through, projectors mounted on one side of the tunnel cover each individual with traditional Maori tattoos and symbols.

At this month’s Cocktails and Clay on December 11 we are taking a similar look at the tradition of body art. How do your tattoos reflect your politics? Age? Occupation?

Here are the photos of the tattoos from December’s Cocktails and Clay! Take a look and see what you think these photos say about each person!

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In Line for Close Encounters

It was the last thing anyone expected to happen at a Hyde Park Art Center exhibition opening. For no good reason at all (or so it seemed) people were made to queue single file and subjected to stern questioning before being granted entry. Unbeknownst to these faithful art lovers that their bemusement, frustration or unfazed acceptance of authority were actually art in the making. More precisely they were participants in a performance by artist Tania Bruguera which was designed to simulate how bureaucratic power interferes with societal belonging.

Bruguera’s performance is one of nine artists projects that have been commissioned by the Hyde Park Art Center as part of the Close Encounters exhibition. The performance was brilliantly performed by Cecilia Vargas (the role of desk officer), and also Sam Goodman and Clare Britt (who acted as provocateurs within the queue). Also, special thanks to Hannah Verrill who documented the performance.

If you waited in line please contact us or comment on this blog. We would love to hear your stories.

Professor Jim Lutes of the Art Institute brought a class to the Hyde Park Art Center for a tour of Mary Lou Zelazny’s retrospective by the artist herself.

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Chuck and Bruce will be talking about the Close Encounters project on Radio New Zealand this weekend!

The interview is available on the Radio New Zealand website for anyone to listen to: Click here to listen / download the clip or go to http://www.radionz.co.nz/nr/programmes/artsonsunday and click on the Close Encounters link.
Check it out - find out more about the project - laugh at New Zealand accents!

Image: Wayne Youle, 12 Shades of bullshit, 2003, laser cut acrylic and spray paint, 23 × 55 inches

If you encounter any people wandering around Hyde Park looking lost and talking with strange accents, introduce yourself - they might be the New Zealanders from the Hyde Park Art Center!

The Hyde Park Art Center is playing host to 6 New Zealanders: 4 artists and 2 Maori representatives, who will be arriving in the next week for Close Encounters, a project that will result in a 2009-10 exhibition at the Center. The New Zealanders will be joined by 4 US artists who are also involved in the project.

The group are converging for a hui (traditional Maori meeting) that will be held at the Maori meeting house at the Field Museum. They will be discussing some big issues - race relations, development of communities, and the relationships in social groups.

Bruce E. Phillips, who is co-curating the project with HPAC director Chuck Thurow, arrived in April with his partner Fiona Moorhead. Bruce may be familiar to HPAC regulars - he had a curatorial residency here last year. Bruce and Fiona have been busy organizing the upcoming events.

Wayne Youle, one of the New Zealand artists, arrived on Tuesday night. He’s busy soaking up Chicago atmosphere and is looking forward to going to a baseball game on Friday night!

Have a look here at the HPAC exhibition page for a description of the project and more information about the artists.