in collaboration with Shih-Wen Yang
They readily admit it. Plenty of brainstorming and arguing went into the construction of the exhibition currently at the Kaneko Gallery showing work by two ARC professors who are also husband and wife.
Jiayi Ling (art new media) in collaboration with her husband, Shih-Wen Yang (physics), have created "Sifting 2002," which runs until November 22.
We collaborated on everything from stretching the canvases to choosing the materials," said Jiayi.
Said art gallery director, Diane Richey-Ward, "By incorporating a video projection and nine mixed media paintings, they present an environment that questions the essence of information influx in today's society. This provides opportunities for multi-faceted interpretations of their work."
Jiayi and Shih-Wen met at Kansas State University when both were studying for their MA in physics. After earning her degree, "Jiayi abandoned physics" says Shih-Wen, and went on to Washington State to get her MFA. Shih-Wen obtained a PhD in physics.
-American River Notes, Week of November 11, 2002
___________________________________________________________________
There is a feeling of mystery upon pulling back the black curtained entrance to the James Kaneko Gallery and stepping in to view the art display entitled "Sifting 2002."
The exhibition may be rather puzzling to viewers, with its panels of snapshots and blurred words, and colorful moving images of a carousel projected onto a wall, along with thumping music playing in the background.
However, according to Shih-Wen Yang - part of the husband and wife duo that created the works on display, this very puzzlement is one of the effects that he aimed to achieve. Yang says, referring to the panels, "[They look] blurred and that's one purpose... because we're so used to very clear information... so we use these (gestures to eyes) and not our brains... we're just sifting through information. But if something's blurred then we really start to pay attention to it."
Lang and his wife, Jiayi Ling, are both professors at ARC and have moved to California about two years ago from the east coast, where they have had, according to Yang, "several exhibitions" at such places as New York City.
This display, however, is the first one that they have done at ARC. Ling says that the installment may be shown at other venues, explaining, "since this display was tailored for ARC we may have to modify it a little for other locations."
Both Jiayi Ling and Shih-Wen Yang encourage their audience to incorporate thought into the viewing experience. Ling says, "Both of us feel that once the artwork has left our hands, our job is done, and the public is free to interpretation."
Yang points out, "To leave the normal path we use to take the information and to take the other route, to make people think more, observe more detail... that's the main concept."
Their thought-provoking display can be viewed until November 22nd, from 11am to 4pm, Monday through Thursday.
-By Raven Pearson, Staff Writer, American River Current, November 20, 2002