BARBARA HASHIMOTO: JUNK MAIL

CHICAGO ARTS DISTRICT

2003 SOUTH HALSTED STREET

2nd FRIDAYS | 6 - 10 PM

SATURDAYS | 12 noon - 4 PM

BY APPOINTMENT 312.446.3171

VIEW THE NEW INSTALLATION ANYTIME THROUGH THE STOREFRONT WINDOWS

Sponsored by The Chicago Arts District and Podmajersky, Inc.


photo credit: Archie FlorCruz
more Junk Mail photos by FlorCruz at whateverland.com
more Junk Mail photos by FlorCruz at flickr

On June 1, 2007 Barbara Hashimoto, Artist-in-Residence at the Chicago-based architecture firm BauerLatoza Studio, asked the sixteen staff members to set aside junk mail they received at the office address. For an entire year Hashimoto incorporated the daily hand-shredding of this unsolicited material into her studio practice. At the end of twelve months she had amassed more than 3,000 cubic feet of shredded material, constituting the amount of junk mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to this one small business.

The genesis of this project was inspired by a number of mind-boggling statistics: AMERICANS RECEIVE 77 BILLION PIECES OF JUNK MAIL ANNUALLY and THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WILL SPEND EIGHT MONTHS OF HIS/HER LIFE HANDLING JUNK MAIL. Statistics like these have taken hold of the artist both visually and physically.

Hashimoto’s labor-intensive yet intimate process has inspired a series of sculptures, installations, performances, and collaborations presented in Los Angeles and Chicago. Now under the sponsorship of the Chicago Arts District and Podmarjersky, Inc., BARBARA HASHIMOTO: Junk Mail presents an evolving scheduleof shredded junkmailinstallations,associated works, visiting artists, and special events. The public is encouraged to view this process anytime through the 45-foot floor-to-ceiling storefront windows. In the evenings the exhibition is lit for viewing.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

JUNK MAIL LANDSCAPES
July 11 – September 13
Guest Artist: Michael Kozien | sound and video
Receptions | Fridays, 6 – 10 PM | July 11, August 8, September 12

JUNK MAIL INTERIORS
September 26 – October 25
38th Annual Pilsen East Artist’s Open House | September 26 – 28
Friday, 6 – 10 PM | Saturday/Sunday, 12 – 7 PM
Additional Reception | Friday, 6 – 10 PM | October 10

JUNK MAIL CONFESSIONS
November 1 – 31
Guest Artist: R. O’Donnell I performance
Reception | Friday, 6 – 10 PM | November 14

JUNK MAIL CHRISTMAS
December 1 – 31
Reception | Friday, 6 – 10 PM | December 12

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE JUNK MAIL PROJECT