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Arabesque
Abstract
During Chinati Foundation's Open House weekend in fall of 2009, selected artists from across the country will exhibit in Archival Editions' Arabesque, a singular site-specific event performed over the course of three days.
Setting
(In the grassy hills of Marfa, West Texas)
Rehearsals
On Thursday, October 8th, 2009 Arabesque stages a dress rehearsal; a preview intended primarily for the community of Marfa. The exhibition premier occvurs on Friday, October 9th, and resumes on Saturday, October 10th. Arabesque will perform daily and into the evening. The exhibition will close at Midnight on Sunday, October 11th.
Props
Archival Editions will design and fabricate display props, including gold-engraved plaques indicating prices of work and exhibition furniture to maintain continuous aesthetic amongst diverse works. 1,500 letter-pressed event notices will be distributed by hand and by post. These Archival Editions documents are artifacts in their own right, a subtle prelude to the conceptual nature of Arabesque. |
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Drawn Away
Archival Editions seeks to dissolve the sense of alienation experienced by consumers of art in typical gallery settings. By engaging themes of interest to Marfa's artistic community, Arabesque provides an otherwise unavailable venue for early- and mid-career artists to display their work.
The purchase of art is a profound opportunity not to be overlooked by artists or consumers. To establish a curatorial framework in which making art for purchase is conceptually appropriate as well as site-specific, Archival Editions will exhibit work in the style of nomadic bazaars--etymologically the place of prices.
In Arabic fashion, objects will be composed in earthbound arrangements upon oriental rugs. Akin to those caravans of nomadic cultures, Arabesque will be staged under the prop of a long, cave-like black tent.
While a careful, deliberate display conveys all the beauty and aura of a high-art installation, it is clear that the objects within are for sale. The artifacts are sculptural in form, tactile in scale, deliberately executed and limited in production. |
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