Look at the Book
Southampton Arts Center
February 24 - May 4, 2024
Southampton Arts Center (SAC) presents the exhibition Look at the Book. Curated by SAC’s Executive Director, Christina Mossaides Strassfield, it is a multi-media exhibition, on show in SAC’s galleries, featuring 33 artists including Anita Balkun, Mary Ellen Bartley, Stephanie Brody-Lederman, John Buchbinder, Neke Carson, Carolyn Conrad, AG Duggan, Patricia Feiwel, Dorothy Frankel, Chip Haggerty, Barry Holden, Carol Hunt, Elaine de Kooning, Donald Lipski, Christa Maiwald, Karyn Mannix, Richard Minsky, Jennie Nichols, Alfonso Ossorio, Erin Parsch, Goran Petmil, Joe Pintauro, Gabriele Raacke, Randall Rosenthal, Barbara Slate, Hadley Vogel, Paul Vogel, Dan Welden, Halsted S. Welles, Ellen Wiener, Julie Wolfe, Nina Yankowitz, and 00100011 [#HASHTAG], all of whom explore the idea of literacy and symbolism of books in our culture.
The exhibition focuses on how contemporary artists have engaged with the book as a surface, structure, found objects, philosophical and literary guide. The works include all types of books, from accordion, video and audiobooks to graphic novels, sculpture, photography, and even site-specific installations created with and from books.
Commenting, Christina Mossaides Strassfield, “This exhibition is a fascinating exploration of the evolving role of books in our digital society, the implication on society of banning books and the constant need to defend freedom of speech in today’s America. It also delves into personal and societal literacy, which is still a challenge in the United States, especially in Suffolk County.”Adding, Christina Mossaides Strassfield, “Books have long since been a reliable source of information to learn about the world and culture. They are a way of handing down the information and stories from generation to generation as well as transporting us to fantasy worlds and places full of new ideas.“Without books we have to ask ourselves how do we access information, is it real or fake? Is it factual or propaganda? Are humans providing us with news or AI bots? Many people no longer have books in their homes or read newspapers. Some books are still banned, many people receive their information and news through social media today, how does this affect our understanding of the world, our ethics, and how we live our lives?”
SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER
25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, New York 11968
