Steven and William have chosen “Obstacle” as the theme of the exhibition; born from the idea of an obstacle course – something to challenge the body and demand attention in the present. They approached artists and asked them to investigate the work they were making, and how the work relates to obstacles. The Perfect Storm, by Sally French, deals with the loss of her home during the housing crisis. Chris Astley explores force, pressure, and weight with concrete forms. In the case of artists Antonia Wright and Ruben Millares, they literally confront theirs with a running start. Steven and William collaborated with their sister Bee Ladd’s education program at PS 58, Project Lab. They spent two weeks talking about obstacles and making art with over 400 students. Art-education has always been an important way for them to give back to the community and to encourage future artists.
Surrounding themselves with people and places they love has always been important to Steven and William Ladd. Their initial encounter with The Invisible Dog was love at first sight. The space brought back childhood fantasies of exploring caves, old buildings, and nature. Buckets and barrels filled with trinkets and trimmings left behind from a defunct belt factory lined the floors. Lucien Zayan, envisioning the spirit of the future art space, commissioned them to utilize these materials and create a chandelier for the ground floor gallery. This commission blossomed into a friendship and opened the doors to a professional collaboration – from curating The Invisible Store to curating their first art show.
Works by: Chris Astley, Carlton DeWoody, Ethan Long, Steven and William, Suzanne Sattler, Chris Dunbar, Antonia Wright, Ruben Millares, Wayne Adams, Paul Bloodgood, Sally French, Allyn Bromley, Stephen Freedman, Deborah Nehmad, Evan Ryer, Michael Joaquin Grey, Project Lab @ PS58, Aaron Padilla, John Silvis, Anne Pearce, Andrew Zuckerman, Jennifer Mills, Robin Kang, and Ian Trask. Artists Bios here
Curated by Steven and William. This exhibition is part of PLUS ONE CURATION SERIES
Dates
May 14–July 17
Admissions
Free
Location
The Main Gallery
51 Bergen St.