What does it mean to ‘fail’ as an artist? The Vestibule and neighboring Das Schaufenster galleries host Cicelia Ross-Gotta to guest curate an investigation into this question through an exhibition of “failed” artworks by ten to twelve local and national artists. The artists will express the range of ways an artwork can fail: The piece might fail materially, fail to reach the audience, fail to be completed, fail to be remembered. Displaying failures exposes artists to critique. This vulnerability must be reciprocal - which is why in addition to curating the works, Ross-Gotta will also participate as an artist to present a failed performance with artist Michael Swaine (Chair of the UW 3D4M Dept). Artists include Amanda Lee Evans, Tia Kramer, Michael Swaine, Walter Kitundu, Adamska Rakhilkina, Aruni Dharmakirthi, Jaleesa M Johnston, Ellen Garvens, Ruth Marie Tomlinson, and JoEllen Wang.
Poetry Reading of failed poems!
Saturday, September 30th, 4 pm, organized by Bill Carty, editor at Poetry Northwest
In conjunction with, Failed, we’ll share failed poems by local writers and famous others, dead or alive -- failed drafts, work set aside, works about failure. A reading usually showcases the few poems that make it through drafts to the final product, let along to publication. But so many more are set aside by writers or editors. Dealing with failure, rejection, self-criticism, perseverance, and revision are perhaps the greatest part of a writer’s process. Come celebrate failure!
images above copyright James Arzente photography
Cicelia Ross-Gotta with Michael Swaine, opening performance August 31, 2023.
Funded by 4Culture Arts Project Grant
We’ve been lucky enough to receive support from this fantastic organization for this exhibition. The grant does not pay for operating expenses or fund the artists.
Please support this non-commercial exhibition and give any amount here.
