Attack of the Molecule installation for ART-IN-PLACE, 2020. Spray paint, expandable foam, Tyvek, Ripstop Nylon, yarn, and fan. Miniature molecule available for $80 purchase to benefit the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund. Please contact the artist: clairehelenashley@gmail.com for more information.
Artist’s Note: The installation is a tongue in cheek reference to our current quarantine moment, through the lens of my sci-fi geek curiosities. The inflatable form is an abstraction of a Covid-19 molecule. I was thinking about early science fiction movies like "The Blob" or "Attack of the Monsters" from the 1950s and 60s where humanities dread and fear of death manifests itself in alien form. Applying that to the current moment I wanted to enlarge the very real threat of the Covid-19 molecule to gargantuan proportions (like the movie "Honey I Shrunk the Kids") and to make it feel like the virus has taken over our entire house. I used the flags in the windows of the house as a form of warning system, somewhat like the red crosses that historically marked the plague houses, or semaphore flags maybe.
ART-IN-PLACE invites artists to exhibit an original work of art to be displayed outside their home or from a window visible to the public. This collective action provides artists and community members in Chicagoland neighborhoods (and beyond) with a sense of hope and connectivity through the experience of public art. Collectors can purchase a beautiful set of postcards showcasing a collection of every ART-IN-PLACE participating artist. Artists make their work available for purchase and will handle their own sales. 20% of sales of an artwork, will be donated to the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund which, directly supports local Illinois artists. All proceeds from postcards sales will also support this fund.
Promote ART-IN-PLACE with the handle #artinplace #clairehelenashley and tag @terrrainexhibitions and @cnlprojects @clairehelenashley #artsforillinois in all posts.
For questions please contact Cortney Lederer at CNL Projects, cortney@cortneylederer.com
About Terrain Exhibitions
Terrain Exhibitions makes private space public through sculpture, installation, performance and interventions. Terrain Exhibitions re-purposes private spaces such as front yards, porches, or windows and turns them into public spaces to foster dialogue between neighbors and provide opportunities for artists and viewers alike to experience new perspectives. Terrain Exhibitions is a 501c3 Not for Profit organization established in the State of Illinois. Founded in Oak Park Illinois by artist Sabina Ott and author John Paulett, the "Terrain Biennial" has produced three editions in 2013, 2015 and 2017. With each edition the biennial has grown in size and reach. The 2017 biennial featured installations and events in 23 locations around the United States of America, Sweden and France with over 130 participating artists and curators. https://terrainexhibitions.org/
About CNL Projects
CNL Projects (CNL) was founded in 2016 by Cortney Lederer to provide artists and organizations with a platform to creatively produce impactful art experiences. CNL’s work is deeply centered on their unique, collaborative approach to working with artists, businesses and organizations to advocate for the value of art and culture in our daily lives. We partner with our clients to create dynamic art programs that serve an organization's mission and aesthetic vision. We deliver curatorial expertise to individual clients, organizations and businesses on both an ongoing or by-project basis. We offer consulting to organizations with a specialization in program design, marketing, team-building and strategic development in the arts. We facilitate workshops and provide individual consultation to artists to help them to realize their vision and build a sustainable career. CNL Projects is committed to working closely with their clients to create dynamic art programs that reflect an organization's vision, while capturing the imagination and innovation of contemporary artists. https://www.cnlprojects.org/
About Arts for Illinois Relief Fund
Arts for Illinois is a collaboration between the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, and the broader philanthropic community, co-chaired by Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker and Chicago First Lady Amy Eshleman. The new online platform features talented artists – performers, singers, poets, painters, writers, and many more from across Illinois – who have made their works available for the public’s enjoyment while at home during these challenging times. This platform is a place to connect, express, and inspire. A place for comfort, laughter, and healing among all residents. https://artsforillinois.org/