Unchained

Many of you have undoubtedly heard about the Chain Letter Show. The idea was a robust one—using the existing network of artists, create an international, artist-curated, pop up event at several locations around the world all at the same time. Ten artists were asked, and then they asked ten more, who then asked ten more. It is easy to see how you get to exponentiality very quickly, making this an idea that was clearly both crazy and very fun. How could I not go along for the ride?

On the day designated for dropping off work, my friend George Wingate and I arrived with our own work plus pieces by several of our friends at the Boston location, Samson Projects. By noon there were art objects stacked three and four deep, and a line of artists was starting to form in front. (By some accounts Samson ended up with over 1200 at the end of the day.) It was clear to George and me by mid day that this wasn’t a venue that would work for us or for our friends.

So there we were in the South End, our arms full of gorgeous pieces by artists we love. Then George and I had a “Salon des Refusés” (although in this case the “refusing” was self-inflicted) moment: Let’s decouple from the Chain Letter event and just have our own show: UNCHAINED. The first version of Unchained is here on Slow Muse, followed by a second “in the flesh” installation in George’s beautiful barn gallery in Wenham, just north of Boston, later this summer.

Here are the artists included in this first exhibit: Deborah Barlow, Kelvy Bird, Dennis Cowley, Pam Farrell, Patty Hanlon, Robert Hanlon, Don Howard, Elizabeth Mead, Holly Meade, Paula Overbay, Anne Pelikan, Mary Smith, George Wingate.

Enjoy.

* * * *

Deborah Barlow
Pyrre
18 x 18″
mixed media on wood panel

* * * *

Mary Smith
ancient string/fairy
12 1/2″ x 13 1/2″
Collage on paper

* * * *

Paula Overbay
Penelope’s Handkerchief
12 x 12″
mixed media on wood panel

* * * *

Elizabeth Mead
Internal Organs
Misc. sizes
Porcelain on wood shelf

* * * *

Pam Farrell
Chinese Whispers
18 x 18″
Beeswax over oil on mulberry paper on wood panel

* * * *

Kelvy Bird
untitled
20 x 20″
Mixed media on paper

* * * *

George Wingate
Adam Grows a Beard
8 x 10″
Acrylic on panel

* * * *

Patty Hanlon
Blue Scenery
5 x 6″
Plexiglass CD box, latex gloves, pigments

* * * *

Robert Hanlon
The Decision
5 x 10″
Pigment and shellac on panel

* * * *

Holly Meade
Young Man Trapped in War
12 x 12″
Woodblock print

* * * *

Don Howard
2010 Christmas Card
5 x 7″
Collage, paper, feather, paint, pen

* * * *

Anne Pelikan
The Lookers
4 x 6″
Paper postcard with sections cut out

* * * *

Dennis Cowley
View from Browns Island 2010
4 x 5″
silver gelatin print (pinhole)

9 Replies to “Unchained”

  1. Pam Farrell and Kelvy Bird’s pieces are so illusive and wispy; about memory and delicacy. I cannot imagine what they are made of. Can you both (or Deborah) write and say how they came to be?
    best,
    Paula Overbay

  2. First, kudos Deborah, to you and George for your instantaneous stroke of genius to respond to the chaos of Chain Letter with Unchained. I’m very happy to be included. Thank you!

    Paula, Soft Parade is part of a large series of oil/alkyd on mulberry paper. I consider them monoprints, created by pressing mulberry paper onto the wet surface of paintings on canvas and wood panel. Some of them are very translucent–your word wispy is apt. Thanks for your interest.

    Deborah, again, thanks, and I look forward to the next part of the exhibit.

  3. Love your and George’s response. Wish I could get to the gallery to see all the work in person.

    A kind of “moveable feast” of art, with the works spread out across a number of spaces within walking distance of each other, might have been fun, though it would have taken a lot of planning. Here in D.C. area, pop-ups are being found in empty storefronts or similar spaces that otherwise are just blights. It’s fun to find art in unexpected places.

  4. A beautiful variety of work, so fun that it tempts me to dig out my own paints and start noodling.

  5. G, submit something! Just send an image and I’ll put it up.

  6. real “thinking on your feet with an armful of art” response!

  7. […] original show was viewable online (and can be viewed here.) Now UNCHAINED can be seen at the following […]

  8. Wonderful idea. I am certain the show will be grand. Please post more photos as things develop for those of us unable to attend.
    B.

  9. […] weekend we did the real life installation of the Unchained show that appeared here at the end of the summer. The late fall light was clear and crisp, and visitors to the Winter […]

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