adventurer? Dick Proenneke
Upon visiting the studio space of Chris Roberts some month ago, I was confronted with nature. It forced itself upon the cold steel, wet concrete, and cheep plaster of Chris' work environment. Small log cabins had been constructed from fallen branches found around his Humboldt Park residence. They were lit from inside, casting erie and compelling shadows across his walls.
Saturday night he will be presenting those constructions, along with performative elements, video projections, and installation art at ArtLedge, a small space located just off the Western blue line train station.
“To see game you must move a little and look a lot. What first appears to be a branch turns into that big caribou bull up there on the benches...
I wonder what he thinks about? Is his brain just a blank as he lies there blinking in the sun and chewing his cud? I wonder if he feels as I do, that this small part of the world is enough to think about?”
–Dick Proenneke
Cabin Fever
Chris Roberts
February 25 – March 4, 2005
Opening reception: Saturday February 25 – 7-11pm
artLedge is pleased to present Chris Roberts’ Cabin Fever. Mr Roberts will
be challenging the spirit of Dick Proenneke, a man who lived contently for
30 years in a log cabin he built in the Alaskan wilderness. Through video,
performance and installation, Roberts will be addressing the restless
confinement and its psychological effect experienced during the reclusive
winter season. The opening night of the exhibition will be celebrated with
a homemade chili cook-off.
artLedge
1638 N. Western #3
Chicago, IL 60647
artLedge@yahoo.com
I'm not familiar with Chris Roberts' work but Dick Proenneke is spellbinding -- I've seen Proenneke's video on PBS a few times.