Open Satellite

Untitled 2011 Concrete and glitter Dimensions vary. This...

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:12:34 -0500

Untitled

2011

Concrete and glitter
Dimensions vary. This orientation: 247” x 251”x 23” high

A brief understanding of glitter.

The blueprint-like arrangement of concrete blocks in Mitzi Pederson’s the still night air leaves no rest for one’s eyes. Multiple shades of glitter catch what little sunlight beams in from our large windows, and many cannot help but be entranced by the juxtaposition of hard, cold, rough-edged concrete and shiny, animated glitter. Surface quality is transformed.

What is our fascination with glitter that renders some of us giddy and childlike, or makes us think of glamour and glitz? Certainly there is quite a bit of cultural space between Pederson’s piece for Open Satellite and My Little Pony, Mariah Carey, Goldshläger, Lurex, eyeshaddow, etc. Perhaps some socio-historical tidbits would be of interest:

The use of the word glitter can be traced back to the 14^th century. It comes from Germanic glit-, denoting ‘shining, bright’. Additionally, the etymology can be traced to Middle English gliteren, perhaps from Old Norse glitra.*

Glitter is roughly 1mm² in size, and fabricated from paper, glass, or plastic. General consensus is that it was invented sometime around World War II by Henry Ruschmann.**

Since the 1960s, glitter has been used to create shimmery silhouettes in fashion and cosmetics. Each decade has its glitter champions—think Ziggy Stardust, 80s hair bands, Sparkle Motion, and those gel pens that gained popularity in the early 2000s.***

Undeniably glitter has a strong presence in our cultural history. It’s also stunningly beautiful, as is Mitzi Pederson’s work. Come see it for yourself before the still night air closes March 19^th.

- Katy Loeb, Open Satellite Communications Intern

*Sources: www.merriam-webster.com, www.word-origins.com.

**Wikipedia.org

***Inspired by NY Magazine’s article: http://nymag.com/shopping/features/38914/

Thursday event cancelled, moved to Saturday at 5pm

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:30:26 -0500

Due to trecherous weather and driving conditions, we have moved our Drinks + Discussion event to this Saturday at 5pm. We hope to see you there. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Drinks + Discussion Tomorrow (Feb. 24th): 7-9 p.m. Open...

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:10:00 -0500

Drinks + Discussion

Tomorrow (Feb. 24th): 7-9 p.m.

Open Satellite and the Henry Art Gallery present a casual discussion in the gallery with Henry Art Gallery Curator Sara Krajewski, Michael Van Horn and Mitzi Pederson. You are invited to join us as Sara Krajewski takes guests through the exhibition of Pederson’s work. Guest curator Michael Van Horn and Mitzi Pederson will be in attendance and available for conversation after the discussion.

**We’ll be watching the weather, and will post any updates online.**

Opening Friday, Feb. 18th, 2011 Mitzi Pederson the still night...

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:58:27 -0500

Opening Friday, Feb. 18th, 2011

Mitzi Pederson

the still night air

Celebration 6-9 p.m. at Open Satellite

Work in progress...

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:48:33 -0500

Mitzi Pederson is hard at work in the gallery. Our excitement builds as she carts in new and diverse materials. Every day things look markedly different and nuanced. Stay tuned…

Mark you calendars for the opening: Friday, Feb. 18th, 6-9 p.m.

Learn about Mitzi Pederson's work

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:46:21 -0500

In rapt anticipation of Open Satellite’s next exhibition, we are publishing a series of Tumblr posts to inspire you to learn more about Mitzi Pederson’s work, as well as guest curator Michael Van Horn.

Pederson’s visually compelling collages and three-dimensional constructions explore and emphasize chance, tension and balance. Pederson manipulates and combines diverse common materials such as cinder block, plywood, cellophane, photographs, glue, string and glitter – exploring each component’s tendencies and inherent physical properties. Line, color, material and space are used to emphasize her desire to blend drawing and sculpture. When complete, her work balances and highlights the properties of the component materials to create a tenuous state of equilibrium and potential movement.

Here are some links to get you started on your information quest:

Ratio 3

Hammer Museum (from Pederson’s 2008 Hammer Projects exhibition)

Art Slant (review of Hammer Projects exhibition)

Whitney Museum of American Art (from Whitney Biennial 2008)

Artforum (review of 2010 show at Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery)

Our next post will include a short interview with exhibition curator Michael Van Horn.

Mitzi’s finally here!

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:14:28 -0500

Despite the dreariness of the Seattle-area winter grey, Mitzi Pederson is lighting up the gallery. She arrived last week and is already at work. Throughout her residency we will be sharing information and insights about Mitzi’s artwork and guest curator Michael Van Horn.

Mark your calendars:

Friday, Feb. 18^th: Opening celebration at Open Satellite

Thursday, Feb. 24^th: Drinks and discussion at Open Satellite

As part of our ongoing partnership with Henry Art Gallery, we will be co-hosting a casual discussion about Mitzi Pederson’s work in the exhibition space. Henry curator Sara Krajewski will share her insights, as will Michael Van Horn. Mitzi will be in attendance.

We’re excited to have such a talented artist and curator in our midst, and even more thrilled about our publication that we will release after the show opens.

Stay tuned for more information about programs and Mitzi’s residency.

Attendees of our 2010 Northwest Artist Edition Launch Party on Nov. 20th examine Northwest Field...

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:20:30 -0500

Attendees of our 2010 Northwest Artist Edition Launch Party on Nov. 20th examine Northwest Field Recording (Extended Play) by Victoria Haven.

Hand painted broaches by Maki Tamura (various titles).

I’m Holding On To This For You series by Elias Hansen.

Director Yoko Ott next to one of Isaac Layman’s Liquor Store.

You're cordially invited...

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:51:51 -0500

to our second annual Northwest Artist Edition Program launch party, Saturday, Nov. 20th, 7-10 p.m. This year we’ve commissioned artwork by four local artists: Elias Hansen, Victoria Haven, Isaac Layman and Maki Tamura.

We invite you to join us for a one-night celebration to showcase the new artwork and congratulate the participating artists. The evening features live spinning by DJ WD4D along with autumnal cocktails, treats and sweets.

Elias Hansen created 10 unique glassblown works. Each varies in color combination. His work has been shown at Maccarone Gallery, NYC, Lawrimore Project, Seattle, The Company, LA, and Seattle Art Museum.

Victoria Haven’s work has appeared at Greg Kucera Gallery and Howard House in Seattle and PDX Contemporary Art in Portland, OR.

Issac Layman created 8 prints, each of which is framed in frames handcrafted by the artist. His hyper-real works have been exhibited at Lawrimore Project, Tacoma Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington, and at Aqua Art Miami.For more information on Layman, please visit www.lawrimoreproject.com.

Maki Tamura has created 12 hand painted broaches. Her elaborate, romantic work has shown most recently at James Harris Gallery in Seattle, WA, with an upcoming exhibition there in December 2010. For more information on her work, please visit www.jamesharrisgallery.com

Isaac Layman

Liquor Store

2010

Archival inkjet print

18” x 13”

Edition of 8

All artists receive a production stipend and fifty percent of the sales revenue. The remaining proceeds support Open Satellite’s core residency program. Editions are available exclusively from Open Satellite.

One week left...

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:29:51 -0400

Don’t miss Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe’s installation Set-apart from Memory by Time.

This show will close Saturday, November 13th.

Read Jen Graves’ review in The Stranger.

Sleeper Cell Success

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:19:59 -0400

A dreamy evening was had by all who attended the Training Camp for artist Susan Robb’s Sleeper Cell project. As part of CityArts Festival, 22 dreamers spent the night in Art Stable, a new building in South Lake Union designed by Tom Kundig (Olson Kundig Architects).

Participants were interviewed about their dreams and asked to collectively dream about mist. Conversation was lively the next morning. The event is an informative stepping stone for Robb in realizing the entirety of her Sleeper Cell project, which deals with—among other things—tactical dreaming, deployed sonic phenomenology, and open source nomadic structures.

Open Satellite will be hosting another such sleepover in early 2011.

Meiro Koizumi at Klemm's in Berlin

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 16:32:37 -0400

Former artist-in-residents Meiro Koizumi recently opened a show at Klemm’s project room 7d5e in Berlin. Entitled A Trace, Meiro had this to say about his exhibition:

I remember one afternoon when I was 9 years old, my father drew me a picture of B-29 Superfortress gracefully flying in the sky. It was drawn from the memories of his childhood during the WWII.

I asked him to draw the same image with a graphite pencil on the wall of the gallery space. While drawing, I recorded the sound.

A Trace runs from October 22 - November 6, 2010. It is the second of a four part series of solo exhibitions by Helen Verhoeven, Amalia Pica, and Maria Barnas.

Photo

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:18:29 -0400

Open Satellite Presents Susan Robb's Sleeper Training Camp at City Arts Fest

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:05:47 -0400

When: From October 23, 2010 9:00 PM
Until October 24, 2010 10:00 AM

Price: $40 per adult for overnight stay

Space is limited. Buy your tickets soon!

Susan Robb’s Sleeper Cell Training Camp is an overnight, special-ops program with training in, among other things, tactical dreaming, deployed sonic phenomenology, open source nomadic structures, and ironic squatting at the new Tom Kundig-designed (Olson Kundig Architects) Art Stable Building in South Lake Union. Operatives should come prepared with their overnight kit - including sleeping bag and pillow. Snacks, cocktails, and continental breakfast will be supplied. The evening will include a Sound Bath by San Francisco-based field recordist and sound artist Aaron Ximm (Best known for his performance and installations as Quiet American); and syntax, phonology, and “glitchy whompy dub hop for the soul” by DJ Skuzzy of Los Angeles. This is a 21+ event and requires ID at check-in.

Training Camp is in part a fundraiser for Sleeper Cells, a forthcoming work that develops routes to deep change through collective dreaming (think of it as making art in your sleep, if you will). This new work was developed out of The Long Walk, a project Robb created in summer 2010 where she led 40 participants on a three-day trek out of the city and into the forest - from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls. While walking seemed to be the goal, Robb became aware of an untapped resource alive in the safe communal space of the “sleepover.” The vulnerable and intimate moments shared around bedtime were a twilight that unexpectedly provided an ideal forum for research, co-creation, and uninhibited insights. Training Camp and Sleeper Cells will construct temporary safe havens for disassociated fellow dreamers to gather briefly and advance their cause.

The funds generated through Training Camp will help fund the creation of the “cells” used in Sleeper Cells which will be donated to Tent City 3 to provide temporary housing to Seattle’s homeless community.

Recent artists-in-residence, Heather and Ivan Morison, have just...

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:28:00 -0400

Recent artists-in-residence, Heather and Ivan Morison, have just completed a new installation, Plaza, at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The structure, which bears many formal similarities to their Open Satellite installation Frost King, encloses the square surrounding the Offsite location of the Vancouver Art Gallery. It exists as both sculpture and architecture, critiquing the environment around it, while, characteristically of the Morisons, suggesting an alternative highly tangible and hopeful future.

Photo via Canadian Art

The Stranger’s Slog recently posted a critical response to...

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0400

The Stranger’s Slog recently posted a critical response to artist-in-residence Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe’s Open Satellite installation. Read Jen Graves’ thoughts on the piece and be sure to come check out the exhibit, Set-apart from Memory by Time.

2010 Northwest Editions Artists Announced

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:10:00 -0400

As part of our Open Satellite Editions, we are excited to announce the artists selected to participate in the 2010 Northwest Editions Program. Their works, created for Open Satellite, will be shown at our launch event on November 20th.

The artists are:

Family Model-Making Workshop on October 16th

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:09:00 -0400

On Saturday, October 16th, from 11AM to 2PM, Open Satellite is hosting a family model-making workshop presented by the Seattle Architecture Foundation. All young architects and their families are welcome. Participants will build several types of models, using a variety of materials and techniques. Through the process, they will learn how architects and designers use models to imagine and develop their buildings.

This workshop is recommended for 8-12 year old. Young architects must register along with an adult. Model making materials and snacks are provided. The workshop costs $15 per child and $15 per adult. Advanced registration is required.

Check out images from the last family model-making workshop at Open Satellite this past March.

Peeling Layers Yields Brief Openmouthed, "Oh" in Art Slant

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:26:00 -0400

Aaron Flint Jamison’s installation, Peeling Layers Yields Brief Openmouthed, “Oh,” is currently featured in Art Slant in a critical essay by TARL member and Hedreen Gallery curator Jessica Powers. The essay challenges the traditional role of documentation in contemporary art, discussing the dangers in maintaining the current system of “objective,” slide-show oriented images and written descriptions. PLYBOO’s multi-faceted, experiential nature and Flint’s response to its documentation (or lack there of) is put forward as both an intentionally implemented problem and solution in regards to this issue.

Check it out: How I Learned to Start Worrying and Hate Documentation

The gallery is open again, now featuring Set-apart from Memory...

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:19:00 -0400

The gallery is open again, now featuring Set-apart from Memory by Time, the newest installation by Open Satellite Artist-in-Residence Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe. The piece will be up until November 13. Come check it out.