Formerly based in Chicago, KS Rives created a body of work known for its use of recycled detrius (Chicago parking tickets, Paris Metro cards, rubber bands, ciggarette butts) meticulously composed into small collages, at times incorporating bits of text. After a traumatic incident of domestic violence, she left the country, later came back to Chicago, and then moved twice again.
In her attempt to regain her bearings, she is presenting this installation which addresses domestic violence and personal transformation. The installation will be cumulative, as the artist will add elements over the course of its appearance. In addition, a dialogue with the audience is continued on the website, www.artasyoga.com Viewers will briefly be confused, and perhaps dissapointed, when they arrive in the gallery and see that something is boarded up - you can't get to see whatever is behind the boards, usually used for temporarily boarding up broken store windows. But there you are - you have to listen to the sounds from behind the wall, notice the broken glass, look for signs and read the notes that are continually added during the next few weeks.
Viewers should try to visit about 3 times to get the complete experience. There are elements of surprise and discovery throughout - a mysteriously dead canary you can see if you peek behind a wall, and some intense sound and breaking glass strewn on another. The experience conveyed in the installation is personal and heavy, and it means you should listen and look closely to try to hear and understand what the artist is saying.
The show opened on October 9; the artist will be back in town on Thursday, November 4 for an artist talk @ 12:15 in the Michigan Ave. Galleries of the Cultural Center.
To hear an interview with the artist, conducted by CGN's Ginny Berg, visit artasyoga.com.
KS Rives: Exit Interview
Chicago Cultural Center, Michigan Ave. Galleries
78 E. Washington, Chicago
thru January 2, 2011
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