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The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art teamed with spectators on Friday night, with the opening of “Mend: love, life, and loss.” A collaborative exhibition of 10 nationally recognized artists, “Mend” seeks to examine the duality of breaking and healing, of losing and finding that transcends the human experience. With the help of faculty and students, Mark Sloan, director of the Halsey Institute and curator of “Mend,” juxtaposes 10 distinct artistic perspectives.
All pieces are either constructed or enhanced with some form of fibrous material, giving the entire exhibit a cohesive hum. As C of C students and Charleston art enthusiasts wove through the gallery Friday evening, the manipulation of materials such as human hair, colored thread and fabric strips drew them into the messages of fragility and hope.
In addition to two other artists, the first floor of the Halsey exhibits the work of C of C graduate, Adrienne Antonson. Inspired by memories of her mother collecting human hair in a velvet box, Antonson created six three-dimensional pieces composed entirely out of human hair.
“Human hair fuels my desire to give old things new life; with it, I have found a material that is beautiful and historic, stimulating and self-sufficient,” says Antonson.
Antonson’s use of unusual material displayed near the entrance of the gallery sets up the viewer for the unexpected, somewhat quirky, yet potent theme of the entire gallery.
“All of the artists in ‘Mend’ speak of the funny or absurd, or even the perverse in what they do. First they take on the endless task of mending what has come undone… all of this takes time and dedication to a task that will never be completed,” said Dr. Marian Mazzone of C of C’s art history department. “Instead of lamenting that condition, however, the artists relish the expenditure of time needed to craft their objects.”
The meticulousness with which each artist stitched and sewed their pieces together spoke volumes to the viewer’s perception of the time it takes to overcome a loss.
“The stitching in Marilyn Pappa’s pieces in particular was so painstakingly done, that it made me think about the time it takes for us to mend what is broken in our lives,” said sophomore political science major Sanaz Arjomand.
While nine of the 10 artists were present at the opening Friday, photographer and performing artist Pinky Bass made herself the most visible with her piece, “Pentagram of Loss.” A 30-minute performance piece portrayed entirely in the nude, “Pentagram of Loss” is an expression of Bass’s personal attempt to heal after losing five loved ones in five years. Five C of C and community performers surrounded Bass, all nude and caked in a white paste, as C of C Art Certificate student Wade Davis accompanied on the cello.
“She is taking the tragedy of her life and making something beautiful with it,” said Davis after the performance.
In her artistic statement, Bass explains, “The image was of them forming a pentagram or star with their bodies while I continued to crochet a kind of umbilical chord. Our bodies are made of clay. This piece is about the fragility of the human body, the space of loss and our inner-connectedness.”
“I found it [“Pentagram of Loss”] very interesting and very deep. I think the nudity gives it vulnerability, kind of ashes to ashes,” said freshman Maggie Jordan.
President of C of C’s Visual Arts club, senior Shelley Smith, was inspired by Bass’ work and the exhibit as a whole.
“I’m getting ideas for my art,” she said. “The performance was really awesome. I really enjoyed this show, it is definitely one of my top favorites that the Halsey has done.”
The installation of “Mend: love, life and loss” has been a joint effort of the Halsey Institute and several C of C students and interns. From the hanging challenges of Rachel Wright’s intricately embroidered dress forms to the stringing of Jon Coffelt’s long line of miniature shirts, interns learned the delicacies of installing a gallery show.
“I am just glad it’s up and we are having such a great turnout,” said Halsey program coordinator and recent C of C graduate Rebecca Silberman. “I hope tonight brings everyone more awareness to the Halsey and the things we do.”
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