"A Turn of the Crank: Sink into Script"
2006-08-04 until 2006-09-03
Viveza Gallery
Seattle, WA, USA United States of America

A Turn of the Crank: Sink into Script, a collection of innovative three-dimensional pieces by Casey Curran comes to VIVEZA Gallery, 2604 Western Ave., in Seattle Aug. 2 through Sept. 3. The exhibits opening reception is 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Curran will be available for interviews during that time. Through Currans mechanical manipulation of texts, the enduring symbols of great literature are set in motion by the viewer‚s playful interaction. Turn a tiny crank and kinetic energy breathes life into the skeletal framework of Melville‚s great white antagonist, Moby Dick, or sends Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet spinning toward their fate.

Using the books themselves as the base, Curran creates a crank-operated mechanical allegory out of wood, wire and twine that emerges, sinks and moves throughout the text - allowing the meaning of each work to literally rise off the page. Having shaped todays artistic and social conventions, timeless novels take on new meaning through this complex conversion.

When people interact with my art I want them to question their relationship to these texts and books in general, Curran said. Sung Tzus Art of War completely changed how wars were fought and rulers ruled and now its used by CEOs to develop business strategies.

Curran scours bookstores and archival collections in search of a text that speaks to him. It‚s a journey of inspired introspection as Curran seeks a window to the past that he can reopen to a contemporary light. It might be a text so influential that its lessons are tantamount to gospel, an obscure text that has slipped into archaism or a beautifully bound volume that begs to be explored.

Curran recently graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a bachelor of fine arts degree.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Washington

Other Important Exhibitions in Seattle