CEPA GALLERY'S SUMMER EXHIBITION EXAMINES GLOBAL CONFLICT


Art of War, CEPA Gallery's ambitious summer exhibition, will feature an international group of artists whose work addresses global conflict through conceptual art. The artworks explore violent tensions around the world, from the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Lebanese Civil War and the Israeli/Lebanese conflicts, the 1995 East Timor political revolution, and the creation of counter-insurgency schools in Panama, as well as broader realities such as global terrorism, and the application of surveillance, interrogation, and incarceration.

"The artworks that comprise Art of War address the "war condition," according to Sean Donaher, Interim Executive Director. "We are not putting forward any specific opinions on global conflict, but rather allowing viewers to see, through unique expression, the common symptoms of all conflict. Our hope is to create new launching points for thought and communication that will allow viewers to gain not conclusions, but insight."

The familiar symptoms of this "war condition" include sudden and unforeseen acts of violence against innocent people; the effect of that violence on individuals and traditions; the repression of civil liberties; censorship of the media and the arts; the free-market abuse of limited natural resources; and the development of protest, counter-insurgency, and resistance fighters.

Artists included in the exhibition are Walid Ra'ad, Carlos Motta, Martha Rosler, Tom Nicholson, Daniel Joseph Martinez, Trevor Paglen, Chitra Ganesh & Mariam Ghani.

What sets this exhibition apart from past CEPA offerings is its involvement with other nonprofit community partners. CEPA has commissioned three projects specifically for Art of War: Chitra Ganesh and Mariam Ghani's ongoing work Index of the Disappeared will be presented at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library's main branch. For this manifestation of the index the artists will be focusing on secret prisons throughout the world and present both materials from the archive as well as books, research materials and video culled from the library's collection in conjunction with photographs and writing.

Continents Under Pressure combines dance, live music and traditional theater while examining both the cause of conflict between peoples and the devastation that results. Staged in a surrealistic setting that is both playground and battlefield, the actors, dancers, singers and musicians explore and lament latent issues within each of us that perpetuate our need to bicker and destroy. This performance features the talents of seasoned performers David Kane (composer), Amy Taravella (dancer and choreographer), and David Butler (set designer, writer, actor). Continents Under Pressure will be performed at Alt Theatre on August 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14.

The third piece is Unburdened, a story that looks at relationships between people, families, generations, countries and societies. This experimental theater piece addresses the ongoing strife in Pakistan and its effects on Pakistanis, as well as those living in the West. It examines our inability to truly comprehend what it is to live inside a war, even one that we in the West are actually fighting. Produced by Toronto-based Modest Production, Unburdened is written by Rehan Ansari and directed by Saniya Ansari. The piece will be presented at Alt Theatre, August 18, 19 and 20. Other related events are being planned and will be announced as they are scheduled. Art of War opens June 19 and runs through August 21.


Upcoming AOW Events

Continents Under Pressure

Thursday, August 5
Friday, August 6
Saturday, August 7
Sunday, August 8
Friday, August 13
Saturday, August 14

All performances at 8:00 pm The Alt Theatre, 255 Great Arrow Avenue, 3rd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14207

Tickets are $15 and are available online at www.alttheatre.com or at the door.

Continents Under Pressure combines dance, live music and traditional theater. Staged in a surrealistic setting that is both playground and battlefield, the actors, dancers, singers and musicians explore and lament latent issues within each of us that perpetuate our need to bicker and destroy. This performance features the talents of seasoned performers David Kane (composer), Amy Taravella (dancer and choreographer), and David Butler (set designer, writer, actor).