Art is a means of communicating ideas and information, and the Sculpture Center put this concept into practice for this year’s winter fund-raiser. Artist Klara Hobza staged a performance piece called “Semaphore” as an inventive way to welcome benefactors to the event.Semaphore is an antiquated mode of relaying information by signaling with two flags, one held in each hand. Hobza’s piece included performers with flags positioned on low platforms along the center’s dark, industrial, dead-end block, with single white lights illuminating each performer along the street. (Another person was posted on top of the brick building.) At first glance the performers could almost be mistaken for racetrack workers waving flags, but seeing as how this is a pioneering arts institution, their purpose and actions were a bit more involved. Performers used the flags to signal the code for “Welcome to Sculpture Center.” Similar signals at the end of the cocktail reception motioned guests to enter the dinner space, and at the close of the evening the performers signaled outdoors, this time a message of farewell.
Mary Ceruti, the center’s executive director, and Katie Farrell, development and communications coordinator, worked with event producer Brad Greenwood to plan the benefit, which honored artist Martin Puryear. At the beginning of the dinner, Ceruti announced that the museum is planning an expansion project.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 12.05.06
Photos: Eileen Costa/Courtesy of Sculpture Center (performers at entry and mid-block, musician), Nicole Villamora for BiZBash (all others)
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Mary Ceruti, the center’s executive director, and Katie Farrell, development and communications coordinator, worked with event producer Brad Greenwood to plan the benefit, which honored artist Martin Puryear. At the beginning of the dinner, Ceruti announced that the museum is planning an expansion project.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 12.05.06
Photos: Eileen Costa/Courtesy of Sculpture Center (performers at entry and mid-block, musician), Nicole Villamora for BiZBash (all others)
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Along the Sculpture Center’s short block, artist Klara Hobza’s performers greeted guests by signaling with flags, using the semaphore system of communication.
Beside the entryway to the cocktail tent, dramatic lighting and more flag signals motioned guests into the benefit.
Hobza stationed one of her performers on the roof of the Sculpture Center.
During dinner, a sound and light piece by Peter Coffin created changing illuminations on Nancy Rubins’ massive, cantilevered sculpture “MoMA and Airplane Parts.”
Stationed mid-block another performer signaled greetings as guests made their way to and from the event.
Joachim Junghanss performed Peter Coffin's "Untitled (Light Organ)" piece amid Nancy Rubins' installation.
