Nine-institution retrospective planned for Maine artist


  • October 02, 2015

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By the end of 2016, Amy Stacey Curtis will have independently mounted in Maine's mills, 9 "solo-biennial" exhibits of interactive installation art--an 18-year project begun in 1998. Curtis is working toward her 9th and final solo biennial (MEMORY, September 17-October 28, 2016), her intention to install this last biennial in Lewiston, host for her first biennial in 2000. Curtis will once again transform and bring attention to empty Maine mill space (averaging 25,000 square feet), while inviting community to "complete" and "perpetuate" her interactive works. 
 
 In Fall 2018, Curtis is publishing an auto-biographical catalogue about her 18-year project, 9 SOLO BIENNIALS. This narrative will include images of the 9 solo biennials' 81 installations, 9 brief contributed essays, and a brief history of each Maine mill. Curtis intends to print the first 2 editions of this 400-page book in Maine (1,000 full-color and 1,000 black and white), and to donate 50% of all funds raised through these editions to initiate in 2019 a new Maine artist grant--the Forward Fund (in partnership with Engine, http://feedtheengine.org). Curtis hopes to acquire enough philanthropic and pre-donation support for these first editions, that the Forward Fund will provide $9,000 to a single Maine artist, for each of 3 years. 
 
Working statement: "The Forward Fund will help propel, or maintain the forward motion, of a Maine artist's work. The Forward Fund will support any emerging, mid-career, or established artist whose work needs "a boost of energy" or momentum, whether the artist is just starting with his or her work or specific idea, or keeping more-developed work or idea progressing forward." 
 
In conjunction with the book's Fall 2018 publication, there will be a state-wide, 9-institution retrospective, AMY STACEY CURTIS: 18 YEARS (brainchild of Sharon Corwin, Carolyn Muzzy Director and Chief Curator of Colby College Museum of Art). This retrospective celebrates the completion of Curtis' project, the book, also the grant by providing the book at each "site." 
 
Each 18 YEARS site will represent 1 of Curtis' 9 biennials (EXPERIENCE, MOVEMENT, CHANGE, SOUND, LIGHT, TIME, SPACE, MATTER, MEMORY) by revisiting 1 of the respective biennial's 9 interactive installations. Eight institutions have committed to this project as of this writing:
Bates College Museum of Art/SOUND
Bowdoin College Museum of Art/MATTER
Center For Maine Contemporary Art/SPACE
Colby College Museum of Art/TIME
Emery Community Arts Center/LIGHT
Engine/MEMORY
Ogunquit Museum of American Art/CHANGE
University of Maine Museum of Art/MOVEMENT
 
At this time, Curtis is seeking philanthropic, organizational support toward the Maine printing of 9 SOLO BIENNIALS (both full-color and black-and-white), so each reader can acquire a book/fund the grant through a small donation. Curtis hopes to raise all the remaining funds needed for her 9th and final solo biennial MEMORY, before the solo biennial opens, so that participants at MEMORY can start making pre-donations toward the book/grant. Lastly, Curtis is still determining the 9th site for AMY STACEY CURTIS: 18 YEARS, while the mill campaign for her last solo biennial begins October 1. 
 
And, all queries should be directed to amy@amystaceycurtis.com
 

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Amy Stacey Curtis

723 Clarkswoods Road
Lyman  ME  04002-6601 

207/838-3390
moc.sitrucyecatsyma@yma
www.amystaceycurtis.com