The Biological Reaction to Seeing a Small Child

This is a piece I did for my letterpress class. I like the idea and overall composition and colors. But frankly, I'm a bit disappointed with myself on this one.

It's about being baby hungry. I wanted it to be absurd as well as understandable and relatable, and I sort of think those two things are felt pretty separately in different parts of the text. I also overdeveloped my plate with the text, washing out punctuation as well as a few letters. I think I could have spent more time with the text, but I got to a point where I just needed to print it and be done.

It was printed in an edition of 50 copies. I would like to sell them so others who can enjoy them instead of looking at them with disgust at the little technical things that went wrong can have them. So. $25 each, along with shipping and stuff to wherever you are. Either send PayPal money or a message to find another way to do it to trishelle_jeffery@yahoo.com, and you can have a print. Everyone else I've shown them to thinks they're lovely. So really, I think it is just me that would rather be rid of the things.

Below I'll post the text that's in the print, in case it isn't terribly legible on your screen.

Show!

This is just a quick teensy blog to let everyone know about Battleground States, in case you don't already. I am so excited to be a part of this show.

I'm just going to copy and paste the press release, because I'm running a little bit low on time at the moment. Also because it's better than anything I would write. Also, look at that artist's list! Happy happy happy.

Battleground States brings together artists who critically engage with the discourse of visual culture and gender studies. Through video, sculpture, installation, and photography, these artworks explore ideas of how figuration, the body and identity intertwine.

The exhibition narrative moves along fusions, ambiguities and disconnections between the figure and the self. The story begins with Utah artist Trevor Southey as his process of self-realization and style of figurative painting has made him an art historical pivot when discussing gender politics within the culture of Utah. Each artist addresses the difficulties of personhood, the pressures and rites of the everyday, the empowering symbols, the aesthetics of repression, and the eventual dissolve to reveal a location inclusive and open to anyone. Generations of artists from across the globe set the figure on a course in which concepts of coupling or completing the self are represented as spiritual quests.

"Gender duality is a cultural concept that deserves questioning and this collection of artists and ideas does that,” said Aaron Moulton, senior curator at UMOCA. “This exhibition brings an unprecedented roster of contemporary artists together to ask whether the body and its representations can tell us who we are."

Battleground States analyzes the space between traditional gender duality exploring alternative forms such as the third gender, a largely foreign concept in Western culture. In their non-Western roles, these alternative identities denote a space for possibility and transcendence. Battleground States can be seen as in-between states, not fitting neatly within a concept of black and white but rather an indeterminate and borderless state of gray. Moving from ideas of hybridity, dedifferentiation and alternative unions, the exhibition investigates notions of the “post-gender” as a way to better understand how our cultural diversities allow interpretations of a third space.

Artists: Daniel Albrigo, Absalon, Bas Jan Ader, Matthew Barney, Tobias Bernstrup, Robin Black, Nayland Blake, AA Bronson, Heather Cassils, Nicole Eisenman, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Jonathan Horowitz, Trishelle Jeffrey, Amy Jorgensen, Asma Kazmi, Terence Koh, Annie Leibowitz, David Levine, Matt Lipps, Georges Minne, Carlos Motta, Takashi Murakami, Shirin Neshat, Bertrand Planes, Genesis Breyer P-orridge, Dean Sameshima, Jack Smith, Trevor Southey, David Wojnarowicz, Patrick Tuttofuoco, Guido van der Werve

The opening is tonight! From 6 to 10 or so. There's also another opening at the UMOCA tonight and a performance by Tobias Bernstrup around nine. I met him last night. Seems to be a lovely fellow. Should be a grand time.

If you can't come to the opening, the show will be up until January 5th. The UMOCA is at 20 S West Temple in Salt Lake City. They're open every week Tuesday through Saturday until six. Come and check it out!