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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2004
CONTACT:
Cira Pascual Marquina, (515) 271-1994, cira.pascual-marquina@drake.edu
Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu
SOUTH AFRICAN ARTIST SIEMON ALLEN REFLECTS ON SOUTH AFRICA'S IMAGE THROUGH EXPLORATION OF MEDIA ARCHIVES
From Jan. 16 through Feb. 22, 2004, the Anderson Gallery will present "Newspapers," a solo exhibition by South African artist Siemon Allen (b. 1971, Durban). A reception for the artist will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, with an artist's gallery talk at 5:30 p.m.
For his exhibition at the Anderson Gallery, Allen will present a new installation constructed with press artifacts to include a collection of more than 150 Des Moines Register newspapers - each containing coverage of South Africa. Part of an ongoing project, "Newspapers" reflects Allen's continued investigation into what he calls the "imaging" of South Africa - in this case through the lens of the news media - as well as his ongoing involvement with collections. With a characteristic deadpan presentation of collectibles and media archives, Allen packs oblique political content into formats that often operate like large abstract paintings.
In presenting “Stamp Collection” (2001), Allen initially displayed over 8,000 stamps to explore how a nation images itself through the official channel of government issued postal stamps. Now in “Newspapers,” Allen examines how a country is itself imaged through coverage in the foreign press. Begun more than two years ago as a research project documenting the U.S. coverage of the 2001 United Nations Racism Conference in Durban, South Africa (Allen's hometown), "Newspapers" has since evolved into the most comprehensive and methodical of his collection projects.
Allen's work has been exhibited in numerous international venues including the 1997 2nd Johannesburg Biennale; the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Johannesburg; the Renaissance Society, Chicago; the Kulturhuset, Stockholm; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Allen's work has also received significant critical acclaim in The New York Times, Art Journal, and Flash Art.
For images of the work or further information about the exhibition call (515) 271-1994, send an e-mail message to
cira.pascual-marquina@drake.edu, or visit www.drake.edu/andersongallery/allen.html.
EXHIBITION SPONSORSHIP
This exhibition if funded in part by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council. Educational programming support for this exhibition comes from the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation. Additional funding comes from the Jules Kirschenbaum Anderson Gallery Fund.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS (All events/programs are free and open to the public)
CONTACT
General Information: (515) 271-2268
Administrative Office: (515) 271-1994
Fax: (515) 271-2558
E-mail: andersongalleryinfo@drake.edu
Web site: http://www.drake.edu/andersongallery
ADDRESS
Anderson Gallery
Drake University
25th Street and Carpenter Avenue
Harmon Fine Arts Center
Des Moines, IA 50311
The main entrance to the Anderson Gallery is on 25th Street, on the street level of Harmon Fine Arts Center (red brick building on the northwest corner of 25th and Carpenter). Free, two-hour parking is available on 24th and 25th Streets.
GALLERY HOURS
Tuesday through Sunday
Noon to 4 p.m.
Free admission to the Anderson Gallery and its programs
ABOUT THE ANDERSON GALLERYThe Anderson Gallery, a nonprofit exhibition space at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, was founded in 1996 to exhibit and support innovation in art and design. The gallery aims to enrich the cultural life of the University and area communities through diverse and challenging exhibitions, educational programs and publications.
As a showcase for art and design exhibitions, the Anderson Gallery, with its humanistic and interdisciplinary interpretation of art and culture, is an essential component of the University's academic programs and the Department of Art and Design. The gallery offers area residents, visitors and students from all disciplines the opportunity to participate in the current discourse and historical context surrounding art and design.