Engine 40 Studios

Reviews

WESTNORTH Studio presents its second annual Halloween Project from October 27th to November 1st, 2003.  The project is an opportunity for artist(s) to create a present a site specific art work for public view over the Halloween weekend.

This year sculptor Gard Jones was invited.

Jones' contribution SAFE, is a floor installation made from pennies, plastic, and duct tape.  The idea is linked to public warnings from the Home Land Security Office . . . in readiness for a possible terrorist attack.  Jones, who is good for thougthful

and sometimes provoking conceptual work, takes his cue from topical issues, and matters that fall between patriot idealism and a cultural fallout.  Gard says about his work, "In a period of great danger and volatility we seek to protect that which we hold most sacred.  We find our choices guided by our leaders words and actions.  That which we choose as sacred speaks to our cultural values.  The methods that we choose to protect our values reflect our confidence in those that guide us as a people and a nation."

In the wake of 9-11 the Bush Administration announced the office of HOMELAND SECURITY to be presided over by Tom Ridge, who was then Govenor of Pennsylvania.  This move would ensure the American Public that our leadership was cognizant of national security concerns and had indeed a plan of action, should the USA come under attack or appear to be in danger of terrorist activity.

One of the earliest signs of action by Mr. Ridge, a combat veteran of Vietnam, a Harvard graduate, a former member of Congress and a close personal friend of the President, was to announce a Color Code ranging from Green to Red, with Red being the sign of a severe alert (whatever that means).  Along with the code was a set of actions residents should take to protect themselves from a possible chemical attack.  This brings us to plastic and duct tape.  Windows and doors were to be sealed with these materials and citizens should stay indoors.  A solution so simple, that some of us cringed while sitting across from gleaming TV sets wondering, "why didn't I think of that"  as Mr. Ridge articulated the rules of the day.

In an atmosphere of growing hostility towards the U.S. and its behavior on the international scene Gard Jones' sculpture SAFE begs us to take another view of this kit of materials or perhaps looks at the absurdity of this simple solution.  As the layers of Federal Governmental departments attending HOMELAND SECURITY merge into larger conglomerates, local government agencies remain in the dark for real solutions and monies promised for first responders.

In a culture that increasingly looks to solving its problems, both inside and outside its borders with money, if not guns, SAFEmaybe indeed the critical solution.

roycrosse
Curator
WESTNORTH Studio
October 2003

New Projects

Recently exhibited four new sculptures in an exhibition in an new alternative space in Baltimore City: the Old North Avenue Market.  

The exhibit was entitled   

BEYOND THE WALL  and currated by WestNorth Studio executive director roycrosse.

A blog of this exhibition can be found in the July 2008 archive of:

www.jaxcal.org