Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro’s 1972 Womanhouse at California Institute of the Arts turned a home into a living art installation. Guests were encouraged to wander the rooms of a real home, each designed by a different artist, which helped to redefine stereotypes surrounding domesticity at the time. Womanhouse opened the door (in some ways, literally) for a more interactive way of engaging with art. With the White Cube becoming the overwhelming standard in the art world, curators Emma Orlow and Rachel Davies wanted their group show Eye Spy to be an exhibition that would once again turn the gallery into an immersive happening and actually lived-in space. Inspired by the artists of Womanhouse, architectural design collective Superstudio, love motels, Hilton Als’ One Man Show at the Artists’ Institute, cabinets of curiosity, the work of Mark Dion, and the dollhouse from 13 Going On 30,the curators were interested particularly in pieces that in some way imitated the structure of a conventional home, providing places to sleep, hangout, and eat. The show was held at the gallery space of ceramicistGrouppartnerfor four special nights in November. Opening night was an artist’s potluck featuring edible art by LAZY MOM, Jen Monroe, Esther Ruiz, Nina Weithorn, Allie Wuest + Vanessa Castro, Renee Delosh, and more. Yulia Zinshstein provides documentation for those of us who were unable to attend.
Review: Eye Spy
PHOTOS BY YULIA ZINSHSTEIN
Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro’s 1972 Womanhouse at California Institute of the Arts turned a home into a living art installation. Guests were encouraged to wander the rooms of a real home, each designed by a different artist, which helped to redefine stereotypes surrounding domesticity at the time. Womanhouse opened the door (in some ways, literally) for a more interactive way of engaging with art. With the White Cube becoming the overwhelming standard in the art world, curators Emma Orlow and Rachel Davies wanted their group show Eye Spy to be an exhibition that would once again turn the gallery into an immersive happening and actually lived-in space. Inspired by the artists of Womanhouse, architectural design collective Superstudio, love motels, Hilton Als’ One Man Show at the Artists’ Institute, cabinets of curiosity, the work of Mark Dion, and the dollhouse from 13 Going On 30, the curators were interested particularly in pieces that in some way imitated the structure of a conventional home, providing places to sleep, hangout, and eat. The show was held at the gallery space of ceramicist Grouppartner for four special nights in November. Opening night was an artist’s potluck featuring edible art by LAZY MOM, Jen Monroe, Esther Ruiz, Nina Weithorn, Allie Wuest + Vanessa Castro, Renee Delosh, and more. Yulia Zinshstein provides documentation for those of us who were unable to attend.