Giving Gardens Design
October 2021 - Ongoing and Going and Going
At the Portal of Belonging in Artlandia, VirginiaIn October 2021 I started my own LLC to design gardens for people and public spaces that are meant to Build Back Biodiversity, one small plant at a time. First named Wildflower Guardians, then renamed Giving Gardens Design, this is deeply Inspired by the native plant movement, by the research of Dr. Doug Tallemy, by the reformed landscape designer Mary Reynolds, by the sixth mass extinction and all the pages of the earth book we are burning, everyday, and can never read again - all of this resulted in my movement towards a career as a landscape designer. I started with the small patch of earth I had available to me by the kindness of the very kind couple I had met, and we went from there. This is now my full-time work but weaving art, sculpture, and drawing back into it is what I am also working on and most certainly my life-work.
I list this here because it is news of the artist, and what I have been doing, and why I have not been showing, because instead I have been literally showing up for the plants. And the bees, And the butterflies. The Birds. All. That. Glows. And. Sings. This occupies my days and nights and in it there is work, but also so much poetry, and I wonder what was ever so captivating on those cold museum walls in the first place. But art has its place amongst all this. And to weave them back together. To look again. At the tree. As the tree. For the tree. And the art object, on the wall, it sings too, but it cries for it’s true home, among the birds and the sky and the spirit.
DISARM: Everyday Violence, Every Day
June 23 – Sept. 9, 2023
Weinberg/Newtown Gallery
Chicago, IL
DISARM: Everyday Violence, Every Day is as an exploration of the challenges of structural racism and violence that Chicago still faces today. After nine years of serving the Chicago community as a non-commercial gallery dedicated to promoting social justice causes through art and programming, Weinberg/Newton Gallery is presenting its final exhibition. On view June 23 – Sept. 9, 2023, the exhibition is in partnership with Firebird Community Arts and Gun Violence Prevention PAC. Featuring the work of Carlos Javier Ortiz, Jefferson Pinder, and Jennifer Nagle Myers.I made a new iteration of “City Without Guns” for this show and invited the public to create their own memorial in this same spirit. The text on the wall read:
I welcome you to create your own version of my artwork A City Without Guns. Your collective version will be displayed in the gallery, growing as it evolves throughout the course of the exhibition. It will be in conversation and community with the one I am sharing.
The instructions are simple: Go out into the world and search the ground for fallen tree branches in the shape of guns. Once you start looking, you will start seeing them. Collect them, one at a time, each time with the intention as you hold it in your hands that we can enter a new paradigm as a culture and live in a city without guns. That our public health crisis of gun violence becomes something we look back at and reflect upon, and that the guns in our cities have returned to being sticks, fallen from our good and trusty friends, the trees – of whom we need many, many more around us.
Do this in the spirit of imagination and trust that even in this type of gesture, something is accomplished. Bring your collection to the gallery and someone there will mount them to the wall to create the community version over the run of the show.
The Border is a Weapon
January 28 - April 30, 2022
937 Gallery
Pittsburgh, PA
Curated by Gil Rocha
Presented by the Other Border Wall ProjectThe Border is a Weapon is an exhibition of new art from the US/MX border region, curated by Laredo, TX artist and educator Gil Rocha. This exhibition will feature artists Maritza Bautista, Angel Cabrales, Juan de Dios Mora, Daniela Madrigal, and Jose Villalobos, whose practices include sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, and performance.
The opening will include a live performance by Jose Villalobos at 7pm and the first 50 attendees will receive a free catalog of the exhibition.
TO DEPICT WHAT IS THERE
March 27 - April 29, 2021
Two-Person Exhibition with Chihiro Ito and Jennifer Nagle Myers
Christine Frechard Gallery
Pittsburgh PA
March 2021TO DEPICT WHAT IS THERE is my first show during the pandemic, showing all new work made in 2020 and 2021. It combines playfulness, pleasure, and protection - the three main things I wish for all of us. Most of the work is made with plaster that I have carved and painted, a new material for me that has an entire history/herstory connected to it that I am enjoying. There is also a carved pinetree and an artist book made with R Press.
Other Border Wall Project received support from The McKinney Charitable Foundation
March 2021In January 2022 we will present The Border is a Weapon, a group exhibition of artists from the TX/MX border region curated by Gil Rocha. We are very excited for what we have planned to bring to the Pittsburgh community later this year at 937 Gallery in the Cultural Trust District of Pittsburgh, PA.
New York Foundation for the Arts and Anonymous Was a Woman Emergency Relief Grant
May 2020I am grateful and extremely fortunate to have received some of the $250,000 that AWAW gave out through NYFA for artists over 40 experiencing major financial pressures due to Covid-19. AWAW immediately mobilized in the early days of this pandemic and acted fast, and it is truly incredible to see the ways organizations are supporting artists right now. Read the full press release here.
Other Border Wall Project is awarded the A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
February 2020We are so grateful to the Pittsburgh Foundation for seeing the value in our work and supporting our 2020 Initiative, OBW 2020 which includes a campaign for presidency, public engagement, and a group exhibition we are organizing for Fall 2020 in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh with artists from the TX/MX region. Follow our progress on that at our website and through instagram /facebook.
** Due to COVID-19 we are still producing this work, but have moved public engagement to virtual engagement for now. The show will be postponed from Fall 2020 to a later date TBD.
Other Border Wall Project is awarded the Social Justice & Arts Grant from the Opportunity Fund
December 2019We feel extremely grateful for the Opportunity Fund’s support and commitment to our work. This grant will go towards our 2020 initiative, OBW 2020, which includes a campaign for presidency, public engagement, and a group exhibition we are organizing for Fall 2020 in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh with artists from the TX/MX region. Follow our progress on that at our website and through instagram /facebook.
** Due to COVID-19 we are still producing this work, but have moved public engagement to virtual engagement for now. The show will be postponed from Fall 2020 to a later date TBD.
Whale Watch in October
October 1 - November 30, 2019
Solo online residency
Commissioned by The Spectacular House
Curated by Sofia Caetano
GATE is an internet art gallery featuring site-specific & internet installed artworks developed within a residency setting.
I created a new body of work for this residency period as a daily expanded practice of conceptual whale watching.
Three limited edition prints from the residency will be available for sale on their website.
TRIGGERED
October 17 - November 10, 2019
Group Exhibition
The Lye Residence in Berkeley, California
Organized by SPHERE
Triggered, a group exhibition and related program presented by SPHERE, brings together art and dialogue responding to Gun Culture in America. Triggered reflects on and magnifies the impact that guns have in our lives, convening contemporary artworks in a range of media that comment on the history and psychological impact of gunsMy work, A City Without Guns, ed 4/5, will be shown.
CURRENT ART FAIR
October 24 - 27, 2019
Represented by Linda Matney Gallery
Curated by John Lee Matney
I will be showing photographs at Virginia’s only Contemporary Art Fair in Richmond, Virginia.
OUT THERE, by Princess the Band
Fall Tour September 4 - October 26, 2019
Created and performed by Princess (the band): Alexis Gideon and Michael O’Neil
My divine feminine artwork was commissioned for this concept video album and live performance piece by the band Princess. It explores toxic masculinity and the role men ought to be playing during the current cultural reckoning of misogyny. The video’s science fiction narrative explores the power of the Divine Feminine through collaborations with JD Samson, visual artist Jennifer Myers, and the band TEEN.
Ligne De Mire
March 1 - May 31, 2019
Group Exhibition
Forum Schlossplatz, Aarau, Switzerland
Curated by Lea Schaffner
Participating Artists: Michel Aubry, Kyle Cassidy, Johanna Dahm, Harun Farocki, Christoph Fischer, Sylvie Fleury, Parastou Forouhar, Claire Lieberman, Robert Longo, Lucas Olivet, The Yes Men, The Propeller Group, Edwin Sanchez, Annina Schwarz, Cornelia Sollfrank, Philippe Starck, Sharif Waked, Ralph Ziman, Aghata ZobristMy work, A City Without Guns, ed 2/5, is being shown
Out There, by Princess the band
Premiere date: March 1, 2019
Spring/Summer Tour
Debuts at The Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
Created and performed by Princess (the band): Alexis Gideon and Michael O’Neil
Performance/Video Premiere with my Contributing Divine Feminine Artwork
Times End
January 17 - March 9, 2019
Group exhibition
Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Sewickley, PA
Curated by Alisha B Wormsley
Participating Artists: Scott Andrew, Pat Broughton, Danielle Cartier, Peter Cehily, Sidney Church, Mairead Dambruch, Adam Farcus, Donté K. Hayes, Malik Lloyd, George Lorio, Ronald Nigro, Robert Patrick, Kofi Perry, Areca Roe, Andre Rubin, Quaishawn Whitlock, and Hyla WillisMy work, Breaking News!, is being shown as two photographic prints
Helene Augustine
Spring Tour
Touring Pittsburgh and Detroit in March/April
Follow me on my Helene Augustine instagram account for more infoThis is my musical alter-ego, a project that allows me to express my never-ending rhyme and song that I have inside my Irish blood
Unloaded
November 3 - February 16, 2019
Group Exhibition
Trout Gallery, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Curated by Susanne Slavick
Participating Artists: Lauren F. Adams, Natalie Baxter, Nina Berman, Joshua Bienko, Casey Li Brander, Anthony Cervino, Mel Chin, Cathy Colman, Dadpranks, James Duesing, Jessica Fenlon, Vanessa German, Jinshan, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Laura Karetzky, Jennifer Myers, Adrian Piper, Don Porcella, Devan Shimoyama, Susanne Slavick, Renee Stout and Stephanie Syjuco
My work, A City Without Guns, ed 1/5, is being shown
Lineage
July 13 - Sept 28, 2018
Group Exhibition
Linda Matney Gallery, Williamsburg, Virginia
Curated by Sofia Zu'bi and Kenlontae Turner with John Lee Matney
Participating Artists: Caroline Absher, Asif Hoque, Jennifer Myers, Nicole Mouriño, Andrew Shears, Sofia Zu'bi
Three new works, For Martin, For Syria, and Mother Running, are being shown
After The Pedestal
June 22 - August 17, 2018
Group Exhibition
The Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH
Curated by Cathleen Chaffee
Participating Artists: Diana Abells, Carol Boram-Hays, Doug Cannell, Kristen Cliffel, Dylan Collins, Davin Ebanks, Elizabeth Emery, Tyler Gaston, Jennifer Hecker, Kenn Hetzel, Fiona Hoffer, David Hostetler, Molly Johnson, Peter Christian Johnson, Melissa Joseph, Kevin Kegler, Jasmine Kornel, Jennifer Meridian, Kristine Mifsud, Michael Nashef, Brian Nelson, Chris Oliver, Sara Allen Prigodich, Mark Soppeland, Thomas Stevick, Sheila Swartz, Wade Tullier, Jennifer Whitten, Caitlin Wismer,and Zena Zipporah
My work, Six Slate Beds, and Portrait of Her, are being shown
Helene Augustine and In The Garden, During the War
May 31, 2018
Debut of musical project and night of performances
The Glitter Box Theater, Pittsburgh PA
With Performances By: Princess Jafar, slowdanger, Dylan Angell, Ian Armstrong, Giling, Gia Cacalano
Ligne de Mire
March 14 - August 26, 2018
Group Exhibition
MUDAC, Lausanne, Switzerland
Curated by Susanne Hilpert Stuber
Participating Artists: Michel Aubry, Mircea Cantor, Kyle Cassidy, Yi-Fei Chen, Johanna Dahm, ECAL/Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne, Al Farrow, Sylvie Fleury, Parastou Forouhar, Susan Graham, Clara Ianni, An-Sofie Kesteleyn, Herlinde Koelbl, Claire Lieberman, Robert Longo, Gonçalo Mabunda, Raul Martinez, Jennifer Meridian, PostlerFerguson, Ted Noten, Mary O’Malley, Mai-Thu Perret, The Propeller Group, Antonio Riello, Edwin Sanchez, Lisa Sartorio, Philippe Starck, Sharif Waked, Brigitte Zieger, Ralph Ziman