I’m a Chicago-based artist and curator, and as I gear up for my next interactive art show, LEXICON, I look back at its predecessor, I CAN DO THAT:
In 2012, I curated an exhibition based on the fact that many people go up to contemporary art and say, “I can do that.” So, at my show, art supplies were placed in front of each piece, and viewers were invited to either physically change the art to see if they could “improve” it, or try to replicate the art on blank canvases (or whatever other surface the artist had used) to see if they could, indeed, “do that.” It was great fun!
I’m always striving to incorporate audience participation and interaction, make art as accessible as possible, and connect people through art, and it worked!
LEXICON will continue my journey for such connection, as the show won’t include any artist statements; instead, viewers will be able to write what each piece means to them onto Post-it notes and display their interpretations and thoughts next to the art.
More info: artistsonthelam.blogspot.com
Pictures by Sophia Nahli Allison.