From February 14th to May 12th, Alava will perform a series of three interventions on her installation Here and There, during gallery visiting hours. Following the same format explored in her trilogy Tell Me (2008), Find Me (2009), and Trust Me (2010), Alava’s performances at the Lehman College Art Gallery won’t be announced. In this way, chance and serendipity decide who her audience is, and who might be aware or unaware of her performances as they are taking place.
For each performance, Alava will reconstruct an installation which appears to be cut in half. Alava’s reconstruction will be followed by the action of cutting the new composition with a pair of scissors. Each intervention will add a new layer to the installation and, therefore, a new composition will be on view. Alava has invited sound artist-composer Roberto Lange to participate in these performances at Lehman College Art Gallery by recording the sounds of her three interventions. An audio piece will be created from this recording.
“Gema Alava laboriously creates a gossamer effect of black-and-white thread, enticing viewers into a private space invigorated by ambiguity. “ (Catalog, New York Fiber in the 21st Century, Lehman College Art Gallery, Sandra Sider, 2011)
ARTICLES ON THIS PIECE
Pierce, David, “New York Fiber in the 21st Century.” /Surface Design Journal, 01/01/2012
“Gema Alava expone en la Lehman Gallery Art College.” /Txart, 5/2011