Tsehai Johnson: Biennial Resident
Residency: July 1 - July 30, 2010Exhibition: opens August 5, Riverfront Park Suites #170Exhibition continues through August 27, 2010A Special Biennial of the Americas Residency Table LessonsTsehai Johnson: Table Lessons is concerned with tying the big notions of sustainability and community with the microscopic concerns that might be read as the biography of the world’s rank and file whose daily lives are often unsung. Recently my work has explored the tensions, connections and social networks formed through shared meals and drinks with particular attention paid to the role of the plate in these interactions. With this project I highlight the social networks formed amongst people as they come together, share some time over a table and discuss the everyday needs that sustain them.On the RiverfrontShe says Michael, draw me a strawberry.So I draw her a strawberry.She transfers fruit to plateswith her own formof magic. Tableware inspiredby friends and strangers.What do you eat and why and how and where?We share a meal on a thoroughfare.Used to be a viaduct above.Sometimes you’d find the homeless deadright here. Here where we sit at our table.More than make it new,innovation is make it better.Michael she says draw me a strawberry.I draw her a strawberry.You choose the future you willenable, draw strawberrieswhen she calls.~ Dee Casalaina, 2010
Born in Ethiopia in 1966, Tsehai attended Reed College, Massachusetts College of Art, and the University of Colorado. Exhibitions and collections include Foothills Art Center, White Columns, Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, World Ceramic Biennale, and Museum of Ceramics. She is the recipient of a Colorado Council of the Arts Fellowship and residencies in Spain and Iceland.
Born in Ethiopia in 1966, Tsehai attended Reed College, Massachusetts College of Art, and the University of Colorado. Exhibitions and collections include Foothills Art Center, White Columns, Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, World Ceramic Biennale, and Museum of Ceramics. She is the recipient of a Colorado Council of the Arts Fellowship and residencies in Spain and Iceland.
EAT AND/OR BE EATEN: Obsessions of a Guest at a Dinner Party Held on the Sidewalk, in haikudinner, dining roomthese connect as they should, as…loitering, sidewalkdinner on tableclothon pleasant dining tablebut, then, on sidewalkdinner on sidewalkamong signs, benches, hipstersrollerblading pastcutlery at handsilver forks, knife for chicken…that dude’s knife bigger…each unique plate choicelooks the same in the spot wherethe potatoes mashthe guy on the benchover there, in the plaid shorts,seems predatoryto take it outsidelive life without our home’s wallsamong carnivoreseating, choosing platesprivate acts done in publicwe move by hungerwhere hunger moves usthe world’s hunger moves tooto the same tablewhich, as was mentioned,our hostess has place with carehere, on the sidewalk~ J Diego Frey – August 4th, 2010
