HOUSTON: STACKS (Curated by Robert Pruitt)

NOTE: ARTIST RESIDENCY SCHEDULE FOR THIS EXHIBIT UPDATED 11/27/12.

Featuring Jamal Cyrus, Nathaniel Donnett, Autumn Knight, Phillip Pyle, and M'kina Tapscott with special online component by writer Garry Reece

November 16, 2012 - January 4, 2013

Opening reception: Friday, November 16, 2012

ART LEAGUE HOUSTON

1953 Montrose Boulevard

Houston, TX

Art League Houston (ALH) is pleased to present STACKS, a group exhibition curated by Robert Pruitt. 5 week-long laboratory residencies will occupy the Main Gallery as a site of transformation addressing themes of Black imagination, creativity, and commodification. The exhibition features a series of performances and installations by five emerging artists: Jamal Cyrus, Nathaniel Donnett, Autumn Knight, Phillip Pyle, and M’kina Tapscott. Writer Garry Reece provides an online narrative component tracking and examining each artist’s project, offering his thoughts on possible meanings of the work. 

STACKS looks at the relationship between cultural tropes and the notion of an authentic black experience. As a cathartic act, these five artists will use the exhibition’s opening to publicly deconstruct, destroy, and de-power materials that impede the construction and reception of Black imaginative power.

How do we make art that embraces tradition while avoiding the trap of cultural tropes? This critical question has circulated amongst the artists in STACKS in preparation for this exhibit. For the duration of the exhibition the artists will explore possible resolutions to this problem by using the gallery space as a laboratory to develop and create installations from the remains of the opening night. As the exhibition proceeds, the artists will re-contextualize and revamp the ideas and products of the previous artists week to create a multi dimensional view of black creativity.

Residency Schedule:

November 16, 6 - 9 PM
Exhibition opening

WEEK 1

Phillip Pyle II: November 19 - 30

Reception November 23

WEEK 2

Nathaniel Donnett: December 3 - 9

Reception December 7 

WEEK 3

M'kina Tapscott: December 10 - 16

Reception December 14

WEEK 4

Jamal Cyrus: December 17 -23

Reception December 21

WEEK 5

Autumn Knight: December 24- 30

Reception December 28

ALL SCHEDULED RECEPTION TIMES ARE 6PM TO 9PM.

YouTube: STACKS Trailer 

YouTube: STACKS Trailer 2