Various Artists @ The Back Room Gallery
November 22nd, 2008
Missy Austin
The event I attended was a showing of various artists’ works in the small
and eclectic gallery space located next to The Red Stag Supper Club. The event
was rather obscure: no title, no obvious theme, and no signage to indicate that
the gallery in which it was held even had a name. There was no clear distinction
between who ran the event, the artists, or the viewers and it was the kind of
atmosphere where if you wanted to reach out and touch a piece of art, you
probably could.
I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and it coupled quite nicely with the tone
of the show. Each artist conveyed a very unique point of view in a multitude of
different mediums (video projection, sculpture, installation, live performance, etc.)
however, each had a somewhat playfulness or relaxed nature to it. This tone
became immediately obvious as one enters the space and is met by a sort of
washtub filled with boxes of cracker jacks. Unsure at first whether this was an
installation piece or just something for us to snack on, we soon noticed people
around us enjoying the snack that served as the heart of the sculpture.
The part of the event that most interested me was a performance piece by
TJ Barnes. I’m not quite sure if “performance piece” is what he would want it
described as, but it’s the best description I can come up with. It consisted of the
artist, outside on a wintry night with a row of seven tires and a sledgehammer.
He did it out behind the gallery space, as it posed to dangerous to perform
indoors, however I think the old signs and junk out back only added to the
experience. He began to hammer away at the tires, stood up in a row, with all
his might. He continued to do so until his hands bled and he was no long
physically able to. His true intention for the piece unknown, I imagine it might
have had something to do with human limits, or possibly the limit of absurdity to
when something can still be considered “art”. Either way, the viewers definitely
felt something while viewing, whether cold, confused, or in pain for the artist,
there was something to be felt by all.
As far as an influence for my own work, it did make me question what my
limits were for considering something “art” and whether I’m too afraid to present
something that isn’t obviously a piece of artwork. I’m not sure I’ll be hammering
away at 18-wheeler tires any day soon, however, I enjoyed the show and
perhaps I too will play around with installation, video, and performance someday
with my own work.