Wk 12 — Artist OTW — Heather Anacker & Krista Feld
Heather Anacker and Krista Feld are graduates from Cal State Long Beach. Anacker and Feld are friends but they are collaborative artists who work together on some art pieces. From the interview, the display shows an exhibit created by Anacker and Feld, Dwelling. Anacker and Feld mostly work with fabrics and raw materials. Before entering the artist ask for their shoes to be removed.
Inside the exhibit, there are several small exhibits inside the room. The exhibit’s overall feeling is raw. The work displays many of Anacker and Feld’s items from their work with fibers. Their work that is on display is in a state that is raw and natural. All of the walls of the gallery are white which allows for the items on display to stand out and be the main focus. The color used in Dwelling is mostly yellows, browns, purple, and pastel green. Due to most of the exhibit being made from wood, or naturally dyed fabrics. Most of the exhibit contains works from the past or a glimpse into both Anacker and Feld’s everyday life.
From the name and the items on display, Anacker and Feld are trying to explore each process behind their work from start to finish. They want the audience to experience and be immersed in what their own life and work is like. As seen at the beginning of the gallery when asked to remove one’s shoes this makes the audience vulnerable and almost comfortable similar to when one is in their own home. Throughout the gallery, a small piece from their life is on display and even their kitchen and rooms which are places that are essential to their life. Another significant aspect of the gallery is when they offer food from their kitchen which is prepared in the same manner Anacker and Feld would prepare at their home. Another idea Anacker and Feld is the process of turning raw material into a utilitarian object that is used every day. The artists want the audience to understand and appreciate the process of turning raw materials into something useful.
Overall, I found this work quite interesting. Although I was not able to go to the exhibit in person I found this work extraordinarily immersive and unique from everything I’ve seen before. Something that I was able to resonate with was the theme of Dwelling which is to remember where you from as you grow. As I get older, I forget to show gratitude for the people and things around me.
