Hallwalls' First Exhibition in their New Space!
OUR MULTI-FACETED PERSONALITIES CAUSE THE QUESTIONS TO BE POSED: ARE OUR SELF-PROJECTIONS AN ACT OF CONCEALMENT? OR ARE THEY REVEALINGS OF TRUE SELF? TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THESE IMAGE PROJECTIONS OF THE SELF DELIBERATE, OR CHOSEN IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER?
Detroit-born artist SUZY LAKE last exhibited at Hallwalls in September 1975, in a group photography exhibition organized by Richard Link and installed at Buffalo State College. As Lake has since indicated, Links curatorial credit should be properly shared with Cindy Sherman, who had a large hand in orchestrating the exhibition, inviting Lake to participate and speak to a photography class at Buff State.
Since 1973, Lake had been marking her place within the burgeoning issues of identity and the body within a social context through works in which Lake employed her own face as a canvas, utilizing the application of make-up, wigs, white face and other mimicked, stereotypical images of women in the mass media. Lake and Sherman shared a common sensibility toward these issues, particularly through the use of artifice as visual constructs to explore these ideas.
Sherman has since credited Lake as a significant influence, while Lake has also stated, I have learned much from her work too; it is an honor that she has remembered mine.
Thirty years laterat a time when youth culture is exhibiting a new and profuse explosionLakes recent work continues to address the expectations raised by media-constructed identities. This exhibitionbringing back an early Hallwalls name in the context of our own 30th anniversary celebrationswill trace a trajectory of serious play through a long career.
As Lake knows, the issue of aging is not new (or even gender-specific). However, in her late 50s, Lake also acknowledges her position within the demographic of a middle-aged female work force perennially in competition with the young, new, and/or disposable. As she rhetorically asks, What can I do that Brittany Spears cannot do? Her response (To grow a post-menopausal beard is something I can do that Brittany Spears cannot do.) highlights the persistent humor and pointed significance of her explorations.
In a departure from a career spent using primarily herself as a template for shifting personae, the last few years have included a series born from the popularity of the American Idol franchise. Using a cheap glitter curtain as backdrop, Lake began photographing actual contestants from the Toronto and Montreal auditions for Canadian Idol. Machinations toward fame are nothing new, but the Idol franchise has intensified the equation, repeatedly underscoring the harrowing symbiosis between self-perception and self-delusion.
Supplementing images of actual contestants, Lake has updated the piece with new contestants, drawn from the general public, the Toronto art community and, for this Canadian/Border Idol version, a select number of Buffalo art folk: a Hallwalls intern, local curators and artists, a young ballerina, and our outgoing Board President. Recognizing any of the contestants emphasizes the underlying point. It takes so terrifically littlea glitter curtain, some lip-syncingto leap from actuality to artifice.
-Annual Members Meeting: Saturday, January 14, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
-Artists Talk: Saturday, January 14, 7:30 pm
-Opening Reception: Saturday, January 14, 8 to 11 pm
HALLWALLS CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER
341 DELAWARE AVENUE, BUFFALO, NY 14202 716.854.1694 www.hallwalls.org
CONGRATS to Hallwalls and RBR!!! Ill be there for the opening!!!
hallwalls and ani difranco come up slim on new music hole. this place leaves the music dept. with no future and trust me this exhibit is...
"hallwalls and ani difranco come up slim on new music hole. this place leaves the music dept. with no future and trust me this exhibit is..."
what? I dont understand what your trying to get through here... please state your point more clearly. Im not into flaming or anything like that here Id just like to no why you seem to have such a negative response to Hallwalls and The Church? What do you mean by "...new music hole."
thanks.
Yeah, what's up with that statement? What exactly is it that you have a problem with?
Ive recently come upon a few weird comments and Im not even sure these people are in Buffalo at all or really know what is going on, one of them yesterday was simply signed 'Anonymous' and used an all too familiar reference to language that possibly too profane for the site in my opinion - children most likely do look at the site with their parents and without - I would hope my kid would be into BRO as it is an extremely informative website with many offerings!
I admit Im still new here so Im still learning but Im devoted to supporting the arts, culture, preservation, and renaissance of this beautiful city. Last night I finally joined as a a member of Hallwalls and got to see the 2nd program in their two day/night festival Resolutions 06. I will also say that I cant wait until next year to enter a work in Res. 07!!!
Suzy Lake's work was very strong! See this show before it comes down!