March 13 - April 24, 2021
“ABOUT THE PROJECT
ARTcade explores the art of video game arcade cabinets, re-imagines arcades as immersive art experience, and re-examines nostalgic children’s commerce of purchasing small toys as purchases of small art pieces.
Instead of video games, these arcade cabinets house short films made by local video artists. Each arcade cabinet prominently features video game style artwork on the sides related to the video works that they contain. Additionally, various vending and skill machines allow audience participation through the purchase of art; such as a sticker/tattoo vending machine repurposed to vend small prints and poetry as well as a capsule toy vending machine dispensing small clay art pieces. Audiences can also try their luck on a skill crane claw catcher machine filled with small art pieces.
On March 13th and April 11th, to coincide with 2nd Saturdays at Sawyer Yards, ARTcade will feature a DJ spinning 1980’s records, from 2 PM -4 PM CST, and some special machines featuring live performance artists inside. During weekends, the exhibition will be open from 1 PM – 5 PM CST with access to vending machines and video cabinets.
COVID safety and social distancing practices will be observed; less than 10 people permitted in the space at a time, masks that cover the mouth and nose required at all times, and gloves required to touch machines. Online RSVP, free, highly recommended to reserve your spot.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Koomah is an intersex & genderfluid multidisciplinary artist, performer, and filmmaker currently residing in Houston, Texas. Koomah has facilitated several interactive public art projects including: “Chalked” around the outside of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, “Intersex Welcome Mat” at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, and the immersive multi-sensory interactive art experience “No Such Thing As A Free House” inside a home in South Park. Koomah has performed, showcased artwork, presented workshops & lectures, and screened films across the US & internationally.
The Locas include local artists Stephanie Saint Sanchez, Melelani Petersen, Jennifer Marie, Akili Sosa, Sondee Gonzales, & Stalina Villarreal.
ABOUT THE SPACE TAKING ARTIST RESIDENCY
The Space Taking Artist Residency, powered by Fresh Arts, is a six-week opportunity for traditionally underrepresented local artists to experiment and “takeover” a public space in new and innovate ways.
For this first round, artists are provided with a gallery space with the Sawyer Yards creative campus, access to peer mentorship, project support and resources, and a stipend to seed their ideas. Each artist will have open hours as well as host a series of socially distanced* public and virtual events and activations during their time in the space.
Through this program, Fresh Arts seeks to feature a diverse cross section of multidisciplinary showcases to new audiences while providing an important income generating opportunity for its participants. In a time when experimental art spaces and project funding for artists are disappearing, Fresh Arts sees this as an innovative way to address this critical issues while nurturing a collaborative art community.
*For 2021 residency activities: All in person programming will comply with recommended health and safety guidelines in place at the time of their program period.
The Space Taking Artist Residency is made possible with support from the Texas Commission on the Arts.”
Artist talk: March 12, 2021
2101 Winter St.
Houston, 77007 Texas
(713) 862-0082
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