GOFORAOOP GALLERY & THE MISSION ARTS PERFORMANCE PROJECT PRESENT:
Guess Who? The Mystery-in-your-face Game
Exhibition details:
February 6th – February 27th 2010
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 6th, 4-8 PM, Free & All Ages Event
Closing Reception: Saturday February 27th, 4-8 PM, Free & All Ages Event
Goforaloop Gallery and Studios
1458 San Bruno Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
Gallery hours: By Appointment
www.goforaloop.com
Related Events:
San Francisco, CA, February 27th, 2010—Goforaloop Gallery and the Mission Arts Performance Project invite visitors to play a life-size version of the game “Guess Who?” and explore what art in a gallery can be, when it is taken down from the wall and placed in the hands of its audience. Guess Who? The Mystery-in-your-face Game is an interactive, site specific, group show, featuring the work of 19 artists from the Bay Area, Northern California, New York, Texas and beyond.
Evi Ellias is a San Francisco based public artist who creates site specific, interactive installations that ask the question who is art for? And then answer it; “Everyone!” Through Guess Who? The Mystery-in-your-face Game Ellias and the 18 contributing artists explore the constraints of a gallery’s rigidity and the formal process of showing and interacting with art.
Ellias is able to transform the generic “white cube” gallery experience by taking the art off the walls and streamlining it into a single art object, an interactive board-game. In this way she has re-constituted the curation process, creating a cohesive 2D portraiture show which ties work together physically instead of thematically. Her large-scale interactive version of the Milton Bradley game Guess Who? combines the work of 18 flatwork artists and gives visitors to the gallery the chance to interact directly with the art. No more “do not touch” signs, this show is for people of all ages, and allows those who love art along with those new to it a fresh perspective and delightful experience. The portraiture on view in Guess Who? The Mystery-in-your-face Game explores identity and the labels we give ourselves and others. Through the safe parameters of play, we are allowed to ask the simple questions that political correctness so often inhibits such as “Is your person black?” or “Does your person have a big nose?” These are the questions that help define how we see ourselves and how we assume others see us. Additionally the game allows for a rudimentary art critique and analysis when players can ask “Is your person illustrated or real?” or “Is your person looking straight ahead?” Please join us at Goforaloop and MAPP for this free and family oriented social art experiment.
Closing Ceremony: Saturday February 27th, 4-8pm
Family Game Night hosted in conjunction with Just Awesome! The Board Game Store will be an evening of family fun with both big and small board games. Join us at Goforaloop Gallery for the last few rounds of the life-size Guess Who? The Mystery-in-your-face Game and play your favorite games. The art of all 16 artists involved in the show will be on sale and there will be supplies to make your own, Guess Who? The Mystery-in-your-face Game to take home and play. www.JustAwesomeTheWebsite.com
About Goforaloop Gallery and Studios:
Goforaloop Gallery is an industrial gallery apace and resident artist community located in the Mission District of San Francisco. Goforaloop functions as a gallery and event space complete with artist studios, a stage, pristine gallery and lounge. For inquiries on upcoming events and rentals visit www.Goforaloop.com
About the Artist:
Born and raised in Cambridge Massachusetts Evi Ellias is a newcomer to the west coast. After graduating from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts with her BA and BFA Ellias became an active member in the Boston-based A212 artist collective where she collaborated to create several large-scale sculptures and interactive art pieces. After two years she left to pursue a solo career as a public interactive installation artist. Ellias continues to work out of San Francisco as a set designer, public activist and creates hands-on sculptures that strive to narrow the gap between art and its varied audiences. To view her work please visit www.Evitaz.com
Contributing Artists:
Daniel Chen
Joshua Cristantiello
Chelsey Dyer
Evi Ellias
Nick Flatt
Maggie Lamb
Evan Mills
Crystal am nelson
Alfredo Pina
Lucy Rivera
Sam Sheehan
Starr Shippee & ABE
Marta Spurgeon
Najva Sol
Nite Owl
Andrew Sotzing
Jessica Tata
Catlyn Turmelle
Aaron Zonka
