Four homes slated for demolition have been used as blank canvases for thirteen Seattle artists to create one-of-a-kind site specific installations. What will you experience as you make your way through these homes? Well, all I can say is expect the unexpected.
This past weekend marked the opening of the three week long exhibition "Mad Homes" in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Before these former living spaces are torn down to make way for a new housing development (that being a whole other issue in itself), the people of Mad Art are giving an incredible opportunity to a few emerging artists.
From entering a home packaged in saran-wrap and ready to ship, to walking into rooms covered in old clothes, to ducking and weaving through red pulling straps laced through every surface you will have an incredibly unique experience making your way through these art installations.
I look all day at how to design your home in new ways and how to incorporate art and decor into your living space, but what if you had the entire house to use as art itself? What would you do? What kind of experience would you want to create for your audience?
Having free range to make art at this scale doesn't come around that often. This is the kind of work that inspires me as an artist. If you are in, or will be visiting Seattle before August 7th you just might want to stop by "Mad Homes" for a little happy insanity.
For more information visit the Mad Homes website.
Images: 1 - 18. Alysha Findley , 19 & 20 CHS Blog
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When my kids were little, we used to let them play with painters tape. On many days, we arrived home to things like this, and all the adults would spend days creeping around to preserve them. Favorite toys, books, household implements would all end up caught in the web. My son even used to make a sippy cup holder in his, for convenience. All of the hassle and annoyance just slipped away when I walked in the door.
As an artist I can only applaud an initiative that drags good art pieces out of the galleries and museums and, quite literally, into the streets. Wish I could see it in person.
these homes didn't look very decrepit to me, it's a shame they're tearing them down.
The 12th picture is pretty awesome
I agree with talktoearthworms, these homes look to be in great shape. Shame on the city for allowing them to be torn down.
The Inversion House installation in Houston has them all beat. I believe it's been dismantled now, but the house appears to be sucked into a vortex -- the tunnel runs all the way through the house.
Pics here: http://tinyurl.com/ypybxc
Thank you @talkstoearthworms, it is a terrible shame. These homes were not decrepit, i live on this street one block over and know the last occupants of two of these houses. I've been to parties, done laundry, and seen how happy the people living here were. Living in a city and seeing older well loved houses mixed in with larger condos and apartments is what gives Capitol Hill part of it's charm.
No one I've talked to was happy to leave and no one who lives and loves this part of the hill is pleased with the change, especially when theres plenty of empty lots and boarded up buildings to be found blocks from here that could be utilized. But that's progress i suppose and an amazing view is a good enough reason to knock down peoples homes when theres more money to be made.
For anyone in the Seattle area--> The UW School of Art is hosting a companion show to this exhibition. "Mad Homes Artists Troy Gua, Amanda Manitach, Julia Haack, Ryan Molenkamp, Luke Haynes and Allyce Wood create companion pieces to their works at the Mad Homes project in the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public"
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129895003763567
reminds me of these installations done in an abandoned Detroit house by teaching fellows at University of Michigan's College of Architecture.
http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=4537
I just want to make a quick shout out for Gordon Matta Clark!
I forgot in my sadness over the homes being demolished to say how fantastic they look now! I walked thru the other day and I'm very happy to see the houses get the last hurrah they deserve.