Client: Craft Contemporary Museum

Overview

“Chirk” is a site specific installation commission for the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, CA. It is based on the gates in front of the Chirk Castle, a late 13th century medieval fortress in Wales built to keep the Welsh under English rule. It consists of hand cut painted Tyvek, a synthetic paper often used in construction as a protective barrier. The actual wrought and cast iron gates were considered to be one of the finest achievements of baroque ironwork in the country. The gate is a barrier, a form of protection- but can also represent isolation and captivity.

The red color of this installation was initially derived from the red hand in the actual gate which is a heraldic symbol of the red hand used to signify a baronet. However, red is also a metaphor for blood, power, love and pain. Suspended from the ceiling, it is meant to consume the environment, as a fire envelopes its surroundings, the work invites you to contemplate power and privilege- both past and present, with white “street markings” sporadically painted on the surface, simple geometric shapes that interrupt the metallic intricacy of the original 18th century design- turning the past upside down and inside out.

Goals

Design, create and install site specific installation for fall exhibition at Craft Contemporary Museum. Design considerations included work being viewed from glass exterior as well as interior space and high ceilings.



On-site Exhibition Design Meeting

September 11 – 15, 2023

Estimated timeframe for pickup of artwork

September 11 –29, 2023

Installation period

September 22, 2023

Opening reception guest list due

(up to 30 names)

September 29, 2023

Tentative Artist Dinner (details TBD & pending COVID restrictions)

September 30, 2023 from 6-9pm

Opening reception from 6-9pm (pending COVID restrictions)

October 1, 2023

Exhibition opens to the public

October-December, 2023

Artist talk or public program

January 7, 2024

Exhibition closing date

January 8 - 12, 2024 (approximate dates)

Deinstallation period and Return of artwork

Process

Process included in person meetings with the Exhibitions Curator and Preparator; on-site Exhibition Design meetings including timeframe for pickup of artwork; installation period and public programming related to project.