Sharing Project installation opens at Appalachian State University this Friday

The Sharing Project installation is traveling to the Smith Gallery at Appalachian State University (Boone, NC, USA). If you’re in the area, I hope you can join me and gallery director, Jennie Carlisle, at the opening event, this Friday from 5-6:30 pm. The show features 15 videos—and 21 interviews—that explore the meaning of sharing and the forgotten Socialist Jewish commune of Happyville (1905-1908) in South Carolina.

A communal sculpture of shared objects has already started growing. Please consider contributing to it by bringing toys, tools, or other domestic items. You will have the opportunity, at the end of the show, to take these things and give them away to whomever you think will enjoy them.

After the opening, there will be a series of other events, including a lecture / discussion, a full day symposium on sharing, and a visit to a North Carolina intentional community. More info and press release, below.

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APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
SMITH GALLERY

Contact: Jennie Carlisle, Director
The Smith Gallery at Appalachian State University
215.421.7118 / carlislejk@appstate.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Exhibition at the Smith Gallery Addresses the Personal and Political Dimensions of Sharing
Joel Tauber: The Sharing Project
September 1 – October 27, 2017
Opening Reception, September 1, 5-6:30pm at the Smith Gallery

The​ ​Smith​ ​Gallery​ ​is​ ​pleased​ ​to​ ​announce​ ​the​ ​opening​ ​of​ ​​The​ ​Sharing​ ​Project​,​ ​a​ ​multimedia documentary​ ​installation​ ​by​ ​Winston​-Salem​ ​based​ ​artist​ ​Joel​ ​Tauber,​ ​which​ ​grapples​ ​with questions​ ​of​ ​how​ ​and​ ​why​ ​we​ ​share​ ​in​ ​the​ ​context​ ​of​ ​family​ ​and​ ​political​ ​life.​ ​The​ ​project features​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of​ ​fourteen​ ​paired​ ​videos​ ​that​ ​present​ ​challenging​ ​episodes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​artist’s​ ​life​ ​as a​ ​parent​ ​teaching​ ​his​ ​young​ ​son​ ​about​ ​the​ ​social​ ​virtues​ ​and​ ​limits​ ​of​ ​sharing,​ ​along​ ​with​ ​a central​ ​video​ ​projection​ ​detailing​ ​visit​s ​to​ ​the​ ​site​ ​of​ ​the​ ​historic​ ​Jewish​ ​commune​ ​of​ ​Happyville, in​ ​South​ ​Carolina​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​land​ ​where​ ​a​ ​utopian​ ​social​ ​experiment​ ​briefly​ ​flourished. Tauber​ ​underscores​ ​the​ ​complex​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​sharing​ ​by​ ​including​ ​a​ ​diverse​ ​array​ ​of​ ​expert opinions​ ​from​ ​fields​ ​ranging​ ​from​ ​History,​ ​Anthropology,​ ​Education,​ ​Political​ ​Science,​ ​and Philosophy.​ ​These​ ​are​ ​presented​ ​through​ ​an​ ​iPad​ ​app​ ​that​ ​allows​ ​visitors​ ​to​ ​peruse​ ​interviews according​ ​to​ ​their​ ​own​ ​interests.

The​ ​final​ ​component​ ​of​ ​the​ ​installation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​community​ ​sculpture​ ​that​ ​will​ ​evolve​ ​as​ ​visitors contribute​ ​toys,​ ​tools,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​domestic​ ​items.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​close​ ​of​ ​the​ ​exhibition,​ ​all​ ​items​ ​collected will​ ​be​ ​redistributed​ ​through​ ​a​ ​community​ ​sharing​ ​event.​ ​All​ ​who​ ​attend​ ​the​ ​opening​ ​on September​ ​1st​ ​are​ ​encouraged​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​something​ ​from​ ​their​ ​own​ ​homes​ ​to​ ​help​ ​create​ ​the foundation​ ​for​ ​the​ ​sculpture.

While​ ​​The​ ​Sharing​ ​Project​ ​​originated​ ​from​ ​a​ ​highly​ ​personal​ ​place​ ​for​ ​the​ ​artist,​ ​Tauber​ ​has been​ ​quick​ ​to​ ​ground​ ​the​ ​project​ ​in​ ​larger​ ​concerns.​ ​“​The​ ​question​ ​of​ ​how​ ​much​ ​we​ ​should share​ ​is​ ​interconnected​ ​with​ ​the​ ​question​ ​of​ ​what​ ​political​ ​system​ ​we​ ​should​ ​adopt.​ ​Inequity​ ​is not​ ​just​ ​a​ ​political​ ​problem—it’s​ ​also​ ​an​ ​ethical,​ ​philosophical,​ ​historical,​ ​economic,​ ​biological (perhaps),​ ​psychological,​ ​and​ ​pedagogical​ ​one.​ ​I’ve​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​expose​ ​the​ ​complexities​ ​of​ ​this problem​ ​through​ ​a​ ​rigorous,​ ​personal,​ ​and​ ​interdisciplinary​ ​examination​ ​of​ ​what​ ​is​ ​inseparable from​ ​any​ ​possible​ ​solution—the​ ​meaning​ ​and​ ​value​ ​of​ ​sharing,”​ ​the​ ​artist​ ​said.

The​ ​Smith​ ​Gallery​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​host​ ​the​ ​exhibition​ ​for​ ​just​ ​these​ ​reasons.​ ​Gallery​ ​Director,​ ​Jennie Carlisle,​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current​ ​political​ ​polarization​ ​taking​ ​place​ ​at​ ​local,​ ​state,​ ​and national​ ​levels​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​center​ ​around​ ​questions​ ​of​ ​how​ ​best​ ​to​ ​allocate​ ​resources,​ ​who deserves​ ​these​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​why.​ ​“Tauber’s​ ​project​ ​is​ ​a​ ​very​ ​approachable,​ ​intimate​ ​view​ ​of an​ ​issue​ ​we​ ​are​ ​called​ ​to​ ​make​ ​decisions​ ​around​ ​every​ ​day​ ​in​ ​a​ ​myriad​ ​of​ ​ways,’’ ​she​ ​said. “Beyond​ ​this,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​thrilled​ ​to​ ​present​ ​the​ ​installation,​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​rare​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​see​ ​an outstanding​ ​example​ ​of​ ​expanded​ ​documentary –​ ​a​ ​new​ ​field​ ​of​ ​art​ ​production​ ​that​ ​blends​ ​video, audio,​ ​and​ ​web​ ​based​ ​interactive​ ​technology.”

This​ ​exhibition​ ​and​ ​its​ ​programs​ ​are​ ​supported​ ​by​ ​a​ ​North​ ​Carolina​ ​Arts​ ​Council​ ​grant​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as the​ ​College​ ​of​ ​Fine​ ​and​ ​Applied​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Art​ ​Department​ ​at​ ​Appalachian​ ​State​ ​University.

Related​ ​Programs

Artist​ ​Talk​ ​with​ ​Joel​ ​Tauber​ ​|​ ​​September,​ ​21,​ ​6pm​ ​|​ ​Turchin​ ​Center​ ​Lecture​ ​Hall
Tauber​ ​will​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​public​ ​lecture​ ​about​ ​the​ ​project,​ ​his​ ​career,​ ​his​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​new​ ​media production,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​way​ ​that​ ​his​ ​Jewish​ ​cultural​ ​heritage​ ​informs​ ​the​ ​work​ ​he​ ​makes.

Field​ ​Trip​ ​to​ ​Earthaven​ ​Ecovillage​ ​|​ ​September​ ​23,​ ​9-​4pm
The​ ​gallery​ ​hosts​ ​a​ ​field​ ​trip​ ​to​ ​Earthaven​ ​Ecovillage​ ​in​ ​Black​ ​Mountain,​ ​NC​ ​​​to​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​one of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​established​ ​intentional​ ​communities​ ​in​ ​Western​ ​North​ ​Carolina,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​hear community​ ​members​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​their​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​resource​ ​sharing,​ ​the​ ​challenges​ ​they​ ​face, and​ ​the​ ​role​ ​that​ ​artmaking​ ​and​ ​creativity​ ​plays​ ​in​ ​their​ ​community​ ​building. Contact​ ​Jennie​ ​at​ ​​carlislejk@appstate.edu for​ ​more​ ​information​ ​and​ ​to​ ​reserve​ ​a​ ​spot.

Family​ ​Activities​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Gallery
September​ ​25​ ​and​ ​October​ ​4.​ ​Times​ ​to​ ​be​ ​announced.
Join​ ​Brooke​ ​Hofsess​ ​and​ ​students​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Art​ ​Education​ ​program​ ​for​ ​morning​ ​and​ ​afternoon playshops​ ​that​ ​incorporate​ ​art​ ​making,​ ​games,​ ​and​ ​stories​ ​on​ ​the​ ​theme​ ​of​ ​sharing.​ ​Perfect​ ​for families​ ​with​ ​children​ ​5​ ​and​ ​under.​ ​Contact​ ​Jennie​ ​at​ ​​carlislejk@appstate.edu ​for​ ​more information​ ​and​ ​to​ ​reserve​ ​a​ ​spot.

Symposium:​ ​Sharing​ ​&
Friday,​ ​October​ ​20.​ ​Time​ ​and​ ​Location​ ​to​ ​be​ ​announced.
A​ ​one​ ​day​ ​panel​ ​discussion​ ​series​ ​addressing​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​sharing​ ​in​ ​relation​ ​to​ ​a​ ​range​ ​of contemporary​ ​social​ ​concerns -​ ​immigration,​ ​education,​ ​healthcare,​ ​and​ ​environment.​ ​The emphasis​ ​of​ ​the​ ​event​ ​will​ ​be​ ​to​ ​present​ ​cross-disciplinary​ ​and​ ​divergent​ ​perspectives,​ ​to​ ​focus on​ ​local​ ​and​ ​statewide​ ​concerns,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​forum​ ​to​ ​think​ ​through​ ​the​ ​interconnection between​ ​personal​ ​and​ ​political​ ​belief​ ​systems​ ​related​ ​to​ ​resource​ ​sharing. More​ ​information​ ​coming​ ​soon.

Free​ ​Market:​ ​Community​ ​Sculpture​ ​Distribution​ ​Event​ ​|​ ​Friday,​ ​October​ ​27,​ ​5-6:30pm
Come​ ​celebrate​ ​the​ ​close​ ​of​ ​the​ ​exhibition​ ​with​ ​a​ ​meal​ ​sharing​ ​event​ ​and​ ​the​ ​redistribution​ ​of items​ ​collected​ ​for​ ​the​ ​making​ ​of​ ​a​ ​community​ ​sculpture.​ ​Take​ ​home​ ​a​ ​hidden​ ​treasure,​ ​toy,​ ​tool or​ ​household​ ​item​ ​to​ ​share​ ​with​ ​a​ ​friend​ ​or​ ​family​ ​member.

About​ ​the​ ​Artist
Joel​ ​Tauber​ ​is​ ​an​ ​artist​ ​and​ ​filmmaker​ ​based​ ​in​ ​Winston​-​Salem.​ ​He​ ​teaches​ ​experimental​ ​film and​ ​orchestrates​ ​the​ ​video​ ​art​ ​program​ ​at​ ​Wake​ ​Forest​ ​University.​ ​His​ ​work​ ​has​ ​been​ ​shown​ ​in solo​ ​art​ ​exhibitions​ ​at​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​locations,​ ​including​ ​Galerie​ ​Adamski​ ​in​ ​Berlin​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as Aachen,​ ​Germany;​ ​the​ ​University​ ​Art​ ​Museum​ ​at​ ​Cal​ ​State​ ​Long​ ​Beach;​ ​the​ ​Helen​ ​Lindhurst Fine​ ​Arts​ ​Gallery​ ​at​ ​the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Southern​ ​California;​ ​the​ ​Rocky​ ​Mountain​ ​School​ ​of Photography;​ ​and​ ​Susanne​ ​Vielmetter​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​Projects.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​been​ ​included​ ​in numerous​ ​group​ ​art​ ​exhibitions​ ​including​ ​the​ ​2004​ ​and​ ​2008​ ​California​ ​Biennials​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Orange County​ ​Museum​ ​of​ ​Art;​ ​“The​ ​Gravity​ ​in​ ​Art”​ ​at​ ​the​ ​De​ ​Appel​ ​Centre​ ​For​ ​Contemporary​ ​Art​ ​in Amsterdam;​ ​and​ ​“Still​ ​Things​ ​Fall​ ​From​ ​the​ ​Sky”​ ​at​ ​the​ ​California​ ​Museum​ ​of​ ​Photography.​ ​Film Festivals​ ​include​ ​the​ ​Sedona​ ​International​ ​Film​ ​Festival,​ ​the​ ​San​ ​Francisco​ ​Documentary Festival,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Downtown​ ​Film​ ​Festival​ ​–​ ​Los​ ​Angeles,​ ​where​ ​his​ ​movie,​ ​“Sick-Amour”,​ ​was awarded​ ​“Best​ ​Green​ ​Film.”​ ​Tauber​ ​won​ ​the​ ​2007​ ​Contemporary​ ​Collectors​ ​of​ ​Orange​ ​County Fellowship,​ ​the​ ​2007-2008​ ​CalArts​ ​/​ ​Alpert​ ​Ucross​ ​Residency​ ​Prize​ ​for​ ​Visual​ ​Arts,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​2015 grant​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Andy​ ​Warhol​ ​Foundation​ ​For​ ​The​ ​Visual​ ​Arts​ ​in​ ​conjunction​ ​with​ ​a​ ​residency​ ​from The​ ​Grand​ ​Central​ ​Art​ ​Center.

About​ ​the​ ​Smith​ ​Gallery
The​ ​Smith​ ​Gallery​ ​is​ ​a​ ​vibrant​ ​contemporary​ ​art​ ​space,​ ​housed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Schaefer​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​the Performing​ ​Arts.​ ​It​ ​presents​ ​original​ ​and​ ​travelling​ ​exhibitions,​ ​features​ ​work​ ​by​ ​faculty​ ​and students​ ​at​ ​the​ ​university,​ ​and​ ​commissions​ ​daring​ ​new​ ​art​ ​in​ ​all​ ​of​ ​its​ ​forms.​ ​The​ ​gallery​ ​is​ ​open Monday​ ​through​ ​Friday​ ​from​ ​10​ ​AM​ ​to​ ​5​ ​PM​ ​and​ ​during​ ​special​ ​events​ ​scheduled​ ​at​ ​the Schaefer​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Performing​ ​Arts,​ ​731​ ​Rivers​ ​Street,​ ​Boone,​ ​NC​ ​28608.​ ​Admission​ ​is FREE.