No Absolutes
Contemporary Art from the Region
October 8, 2000 - January 7, 2001
Catalogue Essay - Joe Willie Smith
Joe Willie SmithJoe Willie Smith commemorates an enduring tradition in the black community. It is personal, yet we each have some tradition that it evokes. Like the cañeros in Gutiérrez’s installation, the people who frequent black barbershops anywhere in this country tap into a camaraderie and a predictable scenario. With variations, these places are comforting for their familiarity. Photos of celebs with the barbers, an array of combs and potions, and always someone selling something on the sidelines, like a tiny garage sale in a corner. But most important is the talk, the banter in which jokes and politics, Muhammed Speaks, and gossip swirl. Boasts and confidences are traded against the background of the ubiquitous radio. Underworld figures mingle with the local congressman. An artist sits next to one of the Phoenix Suns waiting for a trim.
In his installation, Smith has transplanted elements from the barbershop, including the sound and activity. Fusing conversation and music, he has woven an aural aspect to the piece. During the period of the exhibition, barbers will offer free haircuts, a performance element taken from the model.
Again, this environment offers comfort, a miniature world that reiterates values otherwise endangered as globalization makes us all alike.
Marilyn A. Zeitlin
Director/Chief Curator
Arizona State University Art Museum
Return to the No Absolutes exhibition
For more information contact John Spiak at spiak@asu.edu.
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