Day and Night Projects Proposal 2019
NASCENT FLESH SERIES
/ˈnāsənt,ˈnasənt/ adjective: nascent
(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
Origin early 17th century: from Latin nascent- ‘being born’, from the verb nasci .
This work represents the experience of 120 people that were in an upper room in Jerusalem during the 1st century. These people were all packed into a special, hidden but cramped space. According to biblical text the apostles and disciples were waiting because Jesus asked them to wait, and they obliged. They had no idea what they were going to witness. The verses below explain what happened to these people. My work is a literal and symbolic interpretation of the after effects of the Holy Spirit transforming the people immediately into something new.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. acts 2:3-4
Day and Night Proposal
After visiting recently, it occurred to me that Day & Night Projects was a unique space to showcase my latest pieces, and for this reason, I would like to fill the entire space with varied sized faces looking upon the viewers as they enter the gallery. Some are humorous, kind, indecipherable, stoic, happy, disgruntled etc. My current work is about fire from the first century. It was recorded in a biblical account that The Holy Spirit (the 3rd person of the Trinity) went from being wind to something like fire. There were 120 disciples and apostles of Christ that were told to wait in a small, “upper room” in Jerusalem. They waited 50 days for Jesus to return. But instead, the Holy Spirit returned as “divided tongues of fire” described by Luke, most known as a physician and biblical historian, turned disciple. I like to imagine that it was a hot, spring day in Israel and the 120 people were stuffed into a small space much like your space at Day & Night Projects. I can imagine a big group of people in your space viewing the work standing, seated or reclined the way they tended to assemble in Jerusalem.
Currently, I have 20+ abstract faces of poured acrylic paint on balsa wood. They hang with pins and are painted with fluorescent paint on the back of the balsa to replicate the essence of fire. This holy “fire” was a very uncommon spiritual experience that went from being external to internal. I hope to have 120 by late April 2020.
The metaphor I have presented to you all in photographs and video is an attempt to show the effects with and without the form of fire, also known as the Holy Spirit (reference the video attached). Ideally, we could have two spaces. Your space would showcase the work with the artificial lighting representing the paintings without the Holy Spirit since there is very little natural light that directly fills your space (reference the photographs taken with artificial lighting).
The second show would be in another space elsewhere (Brooklyn, Tampa, Tallahassee Galleries mentioned in Voyage ATL article) that has natural lighting. This particular space can present the work activated by sunlight, showcasing the effects with Holy Spirit (reference the photographs with natural lighting). These shows would take place during the dates mentioned below. The first show would take place in the Day & Night Project space from April 12, 2020 Easter - May 6, 2020. The show of 120 faces would then travel to the other location with natural lighting from approximately May 7 - June 1, 2020 during the time of Pentecost and to be activated by natural light. Pentecost takes place May 31, 2020, it would be so cool if we could time it well.
This show/artwork has a progressive component as well. With the help of people observing the pieces in the natural and artificial light, the gallery patrons can become part of the creative process through documentation of their thoughts on a futuristic typewriter. The prompt will be, “What do you see?” They will be asked to observe the pieces in the room that are artificially lit and compare them to the video/timelapse that has natural lighting. They will type their response and sign it with their social media handle. The paper will be one long continuous piece which will quickly drape on the floor with several responses. Once the show concludes, I will take a picture of the typewriter message (while still in the typewriter) and post it to my social media, tagging all of the participants asking them to repost. Hopefully the reverberation of the first century message will be felt in a post-post-modernist kind of way.
Why Day & Night Projects?
From what I have experienced, heard and read, Day & Night Projects is an intimate space for the purpose of showcasing “high-quality work without the demands of a commercial gallery”. My work has an academic component and has visual lighting complexities that I believe would be best experienced in a non-traditional gallery format. Additionally, I am very interested in working with you all because your mission and outreach to other galleries and institutions has a unique parallel to the underlying topic of my work.
My work represents the experience of 120 people that were in an upper room in Jerusalem during the 1st century. Essentially, these people were all packed into a special, hidden but cramped space. I believe that your space will replicate more accurately the experience of those that were present on the day of Pentecost, an important holiday. According to biblical text the apostles and disciples of Christ were waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit but they had no idea what they were going to witness. After their experience in that dark, musty, somber room, they were told to take the gospel message to the known world. Similarly, I read in the article at Voyage ATL that Day & Night Project’s mission is “exchanging shows, bringing new perspectives to Atlanta and taking our story to the world.” We are much aligned in our sense of purpose.
Additionally, I would greatly appreciate being part of an artist for artist environment, it would provide an added benefit of having a common vision. The idea of presenting my artwork to many new communities is a goal and is rooted in the historical biblical text. However, to have a dual show that illustrates my aesthetic content would be thrilling to say the least. Thank you for your consideration.
Day & Night Project Space: 1-4 Assistants would be needed install day. The faces are simple to install but with 120, it will take some time.
TBD Gallery: 1-4 Assistants would be needed install day. The faces are simple to install but with 120, it will take some time. Video Screen/ Ipad installation. Ideally, I would like to use a screen that is approximately 22x28inches. If the gallery doesn't have one, I will need to purchase one. Projection system on a white wall would work as well.
Cost: $800-$1500 its dependent on the technology that is available. It could be cheaper if, I use my ipad as a last resort. I might be able to borrow a screen as well, which would drop the cost.
Duration: 50 days (25 days at one gallery and 25 at the other, give or take a few days for install, de-install and travel time.)
Pamela Diaz Martinez 2019