Exchanges
February 2-25, 2018
Exchanges
The concept of the studio, and with it the artist’s role, is ever-evolving. What once was a “stationary place where portable objects are produced” in Daniel Buren’s original 1971 essay “The Function of the Studio,” is now a sanctuary of creation, a hub for dialogue, and a center of community engagement.
The artists featured in “Exchanges” seek to challenge the traditional notion of art and commerce by amplifying and illustrating the complex interplay between artist and community. As part of a studio program which emphasizes the power of art and social change, the eight Halcyon Arts Lab Fellows create works of art which facilitate dialogue and inspire action around contemporary issues of social justice. These close connections with community—both within the studio and throughout local, international and virtual centers—allow for a reciprocal exchange of their art practice, creating synchronicity which then, and only then, can manifest as a material work of art. As the Halcyon artists navigate their nine-month residency, they simultaneously evolve their individual practices while engaging with one another’s experiences and challenges. These intimate, studio-based exchanges become increasingly important as they collectively face the question: what is the social role of the artist today?
This exhibtion features Halcyon Arts Lab Cohort 1 FellowsKristin Adair, Chloe Bensahel, Antonius Bui, Hoesy Corona, Stephen Hayes, Estefaní Mercedes, Georgia Saxelby, and Sheldon Scott. Halcyon Arts Lab is a residency fellowship program in Washington, DC which supports artists whose work deals with issues of social justice and change. Exchanges marks the halfway point of the Halcyon fellowship and offers a tangible glimpse into the multi-layered and socially-focused practices of these eight artists:
