Artist Holly Ewald, Folklorist Michael Bell, and photographer and book artist Erik Gould will talk about their current work and the role of *the book *in their practice. Thursday October 15, 6-8pm at the AS220 Project Space, 93 Mathewson St.
Ewald & Bell created the installation Languages of the Land, A Dialogue with The Downs. Stepping into the installation is like stepping into the pages of a book. The suspended pages surround the visitor in layered images of land, water, woods, sky and built environments haunted by silhouettes of past inhabitants and objects. With a loose sense of sequential order the viewer wanders through the images and creates his/her own story based on past experiences in similar places. Washed up treasures line the exterior walls of the installation and rest on pebbles, soils and grasses from the site. As one walks through the suspended pages of this book one hears voices of both long-time residents and newcomers share their experiences of Salter Grove. A handheld book of this installation is found in an adjacent room with other artists books sharing journeys to other places.
Ewald states "It grew from my curiosity about the spirit and history of a small bayside park on Narragansett Parkway, just south of Pawtuxet Village. I grew up near a lake in Michigan and have always lived near water. The Downs, now called Salter's Grove, remains in a natural state, molded by centuries of storms, tides, ice and sun. The landscape embraces the memory of its past inhabitants, the wildlife, the people and their cultures. As a newcomer to Rhode Island, Salter's Grove welcomed me; its rawness, delicacy, stillness and storm were familiar. In conversations with others at the park, I found that many come to this small waterfront park for solace, comfort and socializing. Just as the Narragansett Indians drew sustenance from these waters, today, this park draws many local residents, Southeast Asians and Latinos to its shores for fishing, social gatherings and respite."
for more about Holly & Michael's work go here.
