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.