Shows invite debate and participation
Art that challenges the mind alongside works that invite interaction are being featured in the two galleries at The Refinery Artspace. A group exhibition in the inner gallery, titled But I cannot wash it off etc, curated by Nicholas Haig features works by Errol Shaw, Catherine Salmon, Fiona Johnstone, Tao Wells and Gabriel Adams.
An interactive event orchestrated by Ishna Jacobs and Daniel Moon of The Sleepy Hollow Collective brings artists and performers together in re spond, an exhibition inviting performance based groups to respond to the artworks.
In the outer gallery, But I cannot wash it off etc, includes a video shot in the Himalayas by Adams, a stretched bed-sheet and sock by Wells, post-card paintings by Shaw, an installation featuring butter-papers by Salmon, and a series of photographs by Johnstone.
‘‘Whether working with archives, supposedly outmoded forms, or the debris of excess or absent mindedness, each artistic practice on display in this exhibition has some relationship to strategies of repetition or reconstruction,’’ says Haig.
Haig conceived the exhibition idea, finding the experience both a privilege and a challenge.
‘‘Each practitioner has particular concerns,’’ says Haig. ‘‘ It was a bit of an outrageous thing to do; there are definitely intersections, because of their differences, there’s also a tension.’’
Haig started with a hunch, toying with ideas around stains and stigmas.
‘‘Those things which cannot and sometimes should not be washed off, whether historically, politically, artistically or personally,’’ says Haig.
He was particularly interested in the ‘‘stain’’ of Nelson, how our reality is framed and constructed in this city.
‘‘That is, in the sweet sun-spots which engulf us here and which make certain things, political engagement for instance, seemingly impossible,’’ he says. ‘‘So, this exhibition came about because I had a hunch that by bringing together this group of artists. . . to converse and argue, something with a certain charge would emerge.’’
Next door in the main gallery at the Refinery, re spond features the work of artists Ann Braunsteiner, Dan Campion, Lisa Chandler, Andy Clover and Kaela Marshall. Performance art groups Soul Arch Contemporary Dance, Body in Space Theatre Company and Off Broadway Performing Arts School will respond to the works in their performances.
Art works are on and adjacent to the walls, with the central floor space allowing performers to move in and around the artwork, relating to the work and responding to the themes in each.
Jacobs wants the event to draw people in from all over the community, to get engaged and involved, leaving any fears about art and participation outside the venue.
‘‘I just want people to have something fresh, spontaneous,’’ says Jacobs. ‘‘This will take them to a new environment, somewhere different to express themselves, to experiment.’’
Jacobs also invites individuals who dance and perform to respond in an impromptu way, by getting involved. She hopes performing arts students who may never have had a chance to perform outside the school environment, will also join in.
Each evening performance will be filmed, then screened the next day for visitors to watch and get involved at another level of the event.
‘‘It will be interesting to see how brave people will be, with their interactions with the artworks.’’
Ann Braunsteiner is interested in how performers will respond to her work on the gallery walls. ‘‘It’s great to be a part of this show,’’ says Braunsteiner. ‘‘ I can use my writing again as well as a poem by Sylvia Plath, and it will be great to see people interact with my work,
the cross-over will be fun.’’