Regarding the discarded
Presented by Artscapes, a public art program run by Spaceworks Tacoma, Regarding the Discarded employs objects made from mill waste and a question to open dialogues on the definitions and the value of art.
The question of whether we artists are turning garbage into something of value or just another form of garbage reminds us of the subjectivity in art. It encourages viewers to review how they define and value art, which could be different from how an artist or a cultural establishment does. The exhibition intends to examine autopilot modes that most of us rely on for everyday tasks by using waste and art as examples to explore the change of perspectives. Do we know when to switch off to ask questions, see potentials, or connect more?
The Story
The displayed wooden objects, made from mill waste, various sized thin veneers from 2007 when we processed lumber in our studio.
Usually, we'd put aside our mill waste for kindling. But something in the sheer amount of veneer caught our eye. Using glue and clamps, we found a way to group all into bundles, easier to handle, and store.
Years went by. The bundles remained untouched in storage until 2018 when we had to reclaim the space. We took each bundle back to a band saw, the same tool used for milling, trimming edges, cutting into planks, and dividing the planks into these objects.
All the decisions made in the process were intuitive. As we completed the objects, a question began to emerge: "Are we as artists turning garbage into something of value or just another form of garbage?"
Suppose the fate of these objects were different, on a sidewalk instead of inside this window. Would you still look at them the same way? Waste and art seem to share something in common. Whether they can become something of value may be the viewer's call.
Exhibition Dates and Location:
April 18 2019 - July 24 2019
Woolworth Window # 1 , Corner of 11th St. and Commerce St. Tacoma, WA
這次展是以工作室的廢料製成的物品和一個中心問題去問觀者: "我們藝術家是否把垃圾變成了一個有價值的東西，還是其實只不過變成了另一種形式的垃圾?"。由公共藝術櫥窗舉辦，我們利用展覽的性質和地點，運用垃圾跟藝術的相似性請觀眾去反向思考如果這些由垃圾製作的作品不是在這櫥窗裡，而是放在櫥窗外的街道上，不再被公共藝術的體制保護下，你還會用一樣的思維去看它們嗎？ 展覽目地是想鼓勵觀者憑自己的感受去看作品，不需照單全收，一個很重要的相關問題也跟著產生，就是觀者需要問自己: 藝術是什麼? 它對我個人又有什麼價值? 垃圾跟藝術的相似性，也許就是其定義與價值取決與觀者本身。
我們大多數人用自動模式過日子，有時都麻俾了，這展覽也希望能提醒人，何時去關閉自動模式，一個不預期的提問，也許能啟動自己的官能，多用感受來欣賞週遭事物，不論是起眼或不起眼的東西，都有它的潛能。