Recognize Everyone (2018) is a large scale, site specific work, made for CAFK+A 18, June 2018, in Kitchener-Waterloo Canada, that reuses existing infrastructure. A three storey exterior stairwell serves as the canvas for a starburst or spatial mural that can be walked on, and stood within. The work engulfs the main entrance to the building, which is occupied by Google Canada. Installation view, 27 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Waterloo, Canada (Photo: Ehsan Parvizi)
“We have to walk away a bit,” suggests Louise Gluck, “so that perspective grows wide enough to accomodate diversity.” Concepts of equity and inclusion are accessible through the work, as color permeates from a single point of view that changes as the viewers move. Installation view (east e. levation), 27 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Waterloo, Canada.
A record of the longevity of this piece is accessible through Google street view. To enter the building employees must walk through the artwork; what is on their minds? Concepts of unconscious bias engage populations as diverse as the city itself, through an element of surprise. Installation view (north elevation), 27 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Waterloo, Canada
Works that resonate with uninitiated public tap into a critical enthusiasm for the potential of public life. They always begin by noticing how it feels to inhabit public space, in real time, and then doing something about it. Every surface of an existing 14 feet wide, 20 feet deep and 38 feet tall exterior fire stair was painted by hand, in fourteen days.
Installation view (detail), 27 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Waterloo, Canada
Making sculpture is often a collaborative process. Formal decisions about dimensions and materials facing every artist are made in relation to an original idea. This is certainly true of sculptures that are site-specific, like Eleanor Kings’ Out of Office (2020). Charles Darwin observed, ‘that insects should visit the flowers of the same species as long as they can, is of great importance to the plant, as it favors a the cross fertilization if distinct individuals of the same species; but no one will suppose that insects act in this manner for the good of the plant.’
‘Red sings the glory of green.’ -Charles Beaudelaire, The Painter of Modern Life (1845)
This work explores the concepts of unconscious bias the politics of receivership within a given art audience. The same can be said for Blind Spot (2010) and collaborative works like 2500 Superballs (1997) and Eat Your Words (1994).
‘Mauve? Mauve is just pink trying to be purple.’ -John Singer Sargent
The project manager was the Don Miller, an artist in his own right. Gateway Painting primed the site. Gerry Van Cleef was out site co-ordinator. The window film was made by Poshmark. The crew consisted of Sebastian Koever, Alan Zeberek, and Jefferson Cooper received working-at-heights training from Sunbelt Rentals. The work was sponsored by Thalmic Labs, Inc who became NoRTH. Artist accommodation was provided by The Walper Hotel, with In-kind support from The Yeti Cafe & friends of CAFK+A.
Installation view, 27 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Waterloo, Canada
Conceived as a temporary installation for CAFKA’18, a biennial exhibition: Contemporary Art Forum for Kitchener and Area, aka CAFK+A, in Ontario with support from Thalmic Labs who pose in front of the work for a profile about NoRTH Inc.., in the LOCAL PAPER, 2018
Recognize Everyone, a site-specific installation for CAFK+A ‘18, 27 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Waterloo
Through CAFK+A we worked with Thalmic to put together this team: Gateway Painting primed the entire site. Custom window films to tint the doors were installed by Poshmark. Don Miller led the drafting process, drawing with the laser at night, and painting during the day, the work was completed in two weeks.
DETAIL OF THE MODEL, color gels, paper, glue, 17 x 10 x 19 inches, 2018
DETAIL OF THE MODEL, color gels, paper, glue, 17 x 10 x 19 inches, 2018
DETAIL OF THE MODEL, color gels, paper, glue, 17 x 10 x 19 inches, 2018
This work stems from a thought experiment conceived of on the subway in New York City, as a kind of imaginary perceptual game in two parts: when you see a stranger, think of a friend. In the summer of 2017, while traveling through Venice, Greece and Germany, we walked around with this thought in mind, visualizing the social fabric in real time, and that became Recognize Everyone.
SITE VISIT WITH VICTORIA KENT, 2018
Visited the site with Victoria Kent, who owns and operates the Yeti Cafe in KW. Here she is discussing the multiple: here.