From the press release:
at Murphy Gallery on the corner of Wright & Chalmers
March 6, 2014 to April 6, 2014
Explore what dogs could possibly have to do with the borders we create and maintain.
Efforts to maintain borders — be they national, political, or interpersonal — are often marked with violence, division, and fear. From March 6th to April 6th, 2014, the University Y’s Murphy Gallery presents the newest project by Maria Lux that explores the relationship between border maintenance and the dogs that are found there at those borders. Invisible Fences, works by Maria Lux, looks at dogs on these edges, using them to make borders visible, and considering the unique way dogs move between territories, identities, and political spaces as a model for dissolving destructive boundaries. Campus and community members are invited to the opening reception of Invisible Fences on March 6th at the University Y, 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign. The opening reception is from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Invisible Fences features these explorations using a variety of materials, including collage-based work. On Invisible Fences, Maria Lux explains, “Dogs activate these borders. We find them, always at the edges–at the margins of cities, in battle zones, in airport detecting invader species, along the fence patrolling for undocumented immigrants, even at the crossing of adolescence to adulthood. Yet, though dogs participate in making borders, they do not conform to them. In their flexibility, dogs resist categorization and are instead both artificial and organic, tool and companion, technology and being, property and hero.”
About Maria Lux: Maria Lux has been conducting research and art about animals for over 3 years. Her projects, she explains, begin with existing research and stories from other fields-such as evolutionary biology, medicine, agriculture, literature, film, and anthropology-and use the tools of visual artistic practice to create cross-disciplinary, installation-based works. In turn, Maria takes these ways of producing knowledge and explores the essential role that animals play in human understanding. A resident of Champaign-Urbana, Maria Lux received her MFA in Studio Art from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her BFA with Honors and Distinctions from Iowa State University.
About Art@theY: Some of the most profound insight, critique, and creative thinking around the issues which comprise the mission of the Y happen in and around the arts. Art @ the Y seeks to engage issues of social justice, international understanding, environmental activism, faith and cultural understanding through quality arts programming. Art @ the Y includes a revolving exhibition space in Murphy Gallery, featuring artists whose work speaks to the mission of the Y and performing arts events throughout the year.
Additional Information: Invisible Fences is on view in Murphy Gallery at the University Y from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays from March 9th to April 6th, 2014. This exhibition is a part of the University YMCA’s Art @ the Y initiative.
General Information:
Murphy Gallery, YMCA of the University of Illinois
1001 S Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820
Tel: 217/337-1500, Fax: 217/337-1533
E-mail: ann@universityymca.org
Admission: Free and open to the public
Parking Nearby:
Parking lot on 6th between Daniel & Chalmers – Free after 5pm.
Parking garage on 6th & John – Free after 5pm.
Street parking on Wright, Chalmers, & 6th Streets for 75¢ per hour.
Municipal lot on Green & 5th Streets for $1 per hour.