Archives can be a link to the past while reflecting the present. They often take the form of objects, memories, or contemplations from histories.
Archives in Practice features eight artists whose work is influenced by archival research. Drawing from personal, familial, and public collections, cultural heritage, and various reference materials, their work communicates the diversity of what an archive can be and how artists can activate them to retell histories that might otherwise be lost, hidden, or erased. Collectively, these artists illustrate the interconnectedness of the past, the individual, and the present—revealing the importance of connecting to one's diaspora and community, building representation of histories, and conducting object research.
This exhibition also demonstrates the expansive quality of craft research. The artists' work embodies themes of identity within historical contexts and through personal explorations. It engages with social issues and prompts important questions about the significance and impact of objects, photographs, and the intangible on everyday material practices.
The featured artists are Jacqueline Bishop, N.E. Brown, Ruth Hallows, Margaret Jacobs, Hùng Lê, Aaron McIntosh, and Ruth Tamura & Helen Lee.
Seven of these artists are alumni of the Center for Craft. Two of the artworks on display—Gisma̱xsa G̱a̱tgyedm Na Sigidmhanaa'na̱gm, Our Matriarchs Endow Our Strength by Ruth Hallows, and Sojourner Truth Ain't I A Lady by Jacqueline Bishop—are the direct result of research funded by Center for Craft grants and fellowship programs.
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