Grinnell College welcomes two new exhibits from assistant professors Andrew Kaufman, art, and Craig Quintero, theatre. Both Kaufman's "Breach," and Quintero's "we're all in this together" will be on display in the Faulconer Gallery until Sunday, Dec. 16.
For the past several years Andrew Kaufman has been exploring the concepts of containment, breach and contamination in a multiplicity of forms ranging from painting to video installation. While the canvases he works with might contain the images he creates, Kaufman's process suggests a breach when his lines run rampant; rugs bend, vitrines tip over. In an installation of 10 small, disassembled television monitors, Kaufman makes and remakes drawings in an endless loop, containing the mark making and interrupting it. Kaufman explains that, "Through observations of social catastrophes and lived personal experiences, my understanding of containment has broadened to also encompass ideas of breach and contamination. Growing up under the uncertainty of AIDS, and now living in a new age of fear, terrorism, and natural disaster while maintaining the requisite comfortable consumer American life is a constant influence on the development of my work." Just as disease and disaster breach our comfortable existence, Kaufman's work spurs us to re-examine how we test our limits—and if we want to.
Craig Quintero collaborated with artists from Grinnell, the University of Iowa, and Taiwan to develop "we're all in this together". As viewers step into the installation they are able to cross the boundary between spectator and spectacle to participate in the creation of art. The exhibit encourages visitors to not only see art, but also to be art as they create their own stage images with props, costumes and lights, and photograph them in the surreal installation space. Visitors will have the opportunity to upload their photos to the Faulconer Gallery computer. Each day Quintero will select one image to print and frame, providing visitors with an opportunity to add their creative voice to this growing exhibition. In addition, the Grinnell College Department of Theatre and Dance will stage two performances in the exhibit space.
- "hand to mouth" takes the audience on a dark, meditative journey into America's collective unconscious. Directed by Craig Quintero, show times are as follows: Thurs., Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., Fri., Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., Sat., Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sun., Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.
- "Small Elephant Stories" as performed by the Grinnell College Dance Ensemble. Directed by Celeste Miller, lecturer in theatre and dance, show times are as follows: Fri., Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.
Faulconer Gallery is located in the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts at 1108 Park St. For more information about the exhibitions and related programs, call 641-269-4660 or visit the Faulconer Gallery website.
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