"Treasure Island" curated by Julie Chae
on View Oct 1 Nov 9, 2014
at Lower East Side Printshop
Opening Reception: Wednesday, Oct 1, 6-8pm
Hours: Weekdays 10am-6pm; weekends 12-6pm
Free and open to the public
"Treasure Island" alludes to the high seas explorations that took place during the Age of Enlightenment on through the Romantic Era, the navigating and mapping through dangerous waters to discover strange new worlds, peoples and goods. The discoveries made during these times allowed Europe to make advances in science and technology, paving the way for industrialization and eventual modernization. These advances also involved subjugating prior inhabitants and colonizing these lands, which greatly increased the wealth and power of the European countries. Sunsets, beaches, ships and nautical apparatuses like ropes and maps appear in "Treasure Island" along with images reflecting what was lost due to imperialism.
The title for this exhibition comes from Robert Louis Stevensons 1883 childrens novel of the same name and a tale of moral ambiguity. In this seafaring adventure set in the 1700s, men and boys sail on a ship mostly crewed by disguised pirates to an island in search of buried treasure, using a found map marked in red ink with three crosses and the words: "Bulk of treasure here."
"Treasure Island" includes works by: Theresa Bloise, Amanda Church, Amy Friedberg, Esperanza Mayobre, Ali Medina, Bundith Phunsombatlert, Felix Plaza, Paul Shore, Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann, Juana Valdes, Daniel Vasquez, Liz Zanis and Anya Zelinska.
Image: Juana Valdes, On Route II (detail), 2014, cotton handkerchief w/ screen print, monotype, letterpress, 48 x 32 inches
Lower East Side Printshop
306 West 37th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10018
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