Boundaries of Normal Artlab Collaboratory
spring, 2017
Reflecting on the historic Normal Station neighborhood named for the Southern Railroad train depot that delivered students from downtown Memphis and rural areas east of the city to the West Normal School, now the University of Memphis, Cat Pena led myself and 3 other artists in the creation of this public piece. In two 8 hour days we designed and installed this over-sized viewfinder at one end of a series of ditches. In the next ditch bridge we added mirrored circles to reflect the water flowing through the neighborhood.
Ditches are commonplace in Memphis. In this location the bridges were beautifully designed of stone formed a link between streets and neighbors. We saw the flowing water, which is actually Black Bayou, as a unifying element in area.
Maggie Russel, one of the participating artists, wrote the message on the piece.
A Black and White Kind of Year asks the viewer to slow down. If you want to view the prints on the walls walking the Labyrinth will give you a closer look. Each framed work was made by printing the sponge from a printer cartridge until it ran out. Of course, you could ignore the ancient moving meditation floor cloth and walk across it to get a closer look. A small card to the right of the second framed work describes the use of the Maltese Labyrinth. The installation is at the University of Memphis Art Gallery until March 17th, 2018.
Go by for a break from the hectic world we live in.
A Snowball's Chance, 2015 and 2016
Update.... In my second year of this project I managed to get a little press...
http://www.memphismagazine.com/Blogs/901/December-2015/A-Snowballs-Chance/?utm_content=buffer755f6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.VndEw6DtV49.mailto
I began a Social Practice Art project on the eve of the Solstice. "A Snowball's Chance" is an interactive installation located at 4524 Flamingo Road in Memphis, TN. Initially, it was for my neighbors in Colonial Acres and the surrounding neighborhoods on the Nextdoor website. Now it is open to anyone who wants to come by.
Located near the sculpture is a sandwich sign contains this message:
A Snowball's Chance is what most people believe about change. I'm flaky enough to believe that individual change multiplied by 200 or more will create lasting change. If enough snowflakes join together to make a snowball bigger than the problem, change will occur. This interactive installment requires a commitment from YOU to treat all living things with the same respect. If you can commit to that, then take ONE snowflake to remind you of that promise because YOU ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION. and a basket of snowflakes.
http://www.memphismagazine.com/Blogs/901/December-2015/A-Snowballs-Chance/?utm_content=buffer755f6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.VndEw6DtV49.mailto
I began a Social Practice Art project on the eve of the Solstice. "A Snowball's Chance" is an interactive installation located at 4524 Flamingo Road in Memphis, TN. Initially, it was for my neighbors in Colonial Acres and the surrounding neighborhoods on the Nextdoor website. Now it is open to anyone who wants to come by.
Located near the sculpture is a sandwich sign contains this message:
A Snowball's Chance is what most people believe about change. I'm flaky enough to believe that individual change multiplied by 200 or more will create lasting change. If enough snowflakes join together to make a snowball bigger than the problem, change will occur. This interactive installment requires a commitment from YOU to treat all living things with the same respect. If you can commit to that, then take ONE snowflake to remind you of that promise because YOU ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION. and a basket of snowflakes.
Frozen Landscapes, 2016
Not enough snow, sleet and ice for you in Memphis this time of the year? Then head on over to Soulsville, USA for an exhibit of the work of Judith Dierkes, Frozen Landscapes. There is a large Aspen carved into plexiglass covering collaged photographs of Alta Ski Resort and an acrylic on hand dyed quilted fabric of the sensation of Driving Thru the Snow. More traditional works include 4 smaller oil paintings of the Blizzard of ’93 in East Tennessee. Perhaps the most interesting work is the plexiglass snowflake/keys combined to form sculpture and wall hangings.
The work is located in the Towne Center building recently purchased by Tom Shadyac in the heart of Soulsville, USA. Directly across from Stax, the show is in the lobby area of the building on the left side. It is open M-Th 7:30am -5:30pm and F 7:30-11:30am. All of the work is for sale and the prices are listed under each image.