i will be your surrogate grandparent :: oakland museum project


hey ... what are you doing next weekend? want to come learn a skill with me at the oakland museum as part of their we customize show?

generally i'm not a "social practice" artist - but i had this idea a while back. and then the we customize rover was at one of the craft fairs i attended... and when i talked to the curator about my idea... she thought it would be a perfect fit for this show.

the premise? [this was my proposal write up]


In thinking about how I became an artist I am always revising memories of sitting around with my grandparents and making/fixing things. In a contemporary art making practice an artist is often faced with the challenge of how to physically realize a concept. Many times we simply decide to learn a new skill, figure out how a tool works or gain access o facilities we need in order to finalize a piece. Most artists I know jump right in with both feet and simply figure it out. Do it yourself is in the end the most practical, affordable and fun method to make work.

Occasionally when I speak with people who are not artists they seem surprised at my penchant for collecting new tools and skills. When I have a broken lamp I fix it, when they have a broken lamp they take it to someone to fix or they purchase a new one. Of course it’s not always this simple, but in a general sense I have found this to be the case.

My tendency to fix/alter/repair items and my desire to take things apart and see how they work stems directly from my grandparents. My grandfather had boxes of tools and the will to fix every switch, broken clasp, unhinged door himself. My grandmother with her crafting ability embroidered, knitted,  and crocheted items for her home and loved ones. It was just NORMAL to do these things. And they taught and showed me what they knew. And in the end really helped foster confidence in my ability to problem solve.

I want to thus offer a very small, but tangible form of this experience to others. I offer a list of skills/tasks that I can readily teach or help people with. I also offer people to submit things they don’t know how to do, but would like to. If I think it’s feasible, I will attempt to learn the skill and we can tackle together how to get it done. In essence I will become surrogate grandparents for anyone who wants to participate in this project.




Friday the 24th from 5-8pm, Saturday the 25th from 1-4 and Sunday the 26th from 1-4pm. 

if you want to come visit I HAVE SOME FREE PASSES. just let me know you want to come and i'll get them to you somehow. 

if you want a print out of the above list - here's a pdf

want to see what's been going on with the show?

hope to see you there !

Comments

Anonymous said…
I love the overalls! Sounds like great fun as well as good learning for others. We hope to see you at the museum that weekend.
if i were closer, i'd bring a lamp and let you help me! brilliant idea, lisa.
Sophia said…
If I was in town you know i would be there! Bummer I am missing out on this fun and educational event. this sounds so fun Lisa.
louise said…
Hi Lisa, Sounds like terrific fun to me, wish I could come along. Hope it goes brilliantly. xolj PS Sorry for the long time between visits. xo

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