Elective Affinities: A Library
Curated by Jocelyn Spaar and Sarah Watson
February 18–April 9, 2017
Opening Reception: Tuesday, February 21, 6:30–8:30pm
205 Hudson Gallery
Hunter College Art Galleries
205 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
Entrance on the south side of Canal Street between Hudson and Watts
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 1–6pm
With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one—but no one at all—can tell you what to read and when and how. —Doris Lessing
For the 2017 spring season, the Hunter College Art Galleries have transformed 205 Hudson Gallery into a library and reading room comprised of works centering on the notion of family and community in a very broad, inclusive sense, whether that pertains to one’s biological or chosen family, artistic or literary lineage, intellectual community, virtual network, or neighborhood. This library is intended to function as a gathering space to host readings, screenings, performances, meetings, and workshops.
Committed to cultivating conversations by a multiplicity of voices to create an open and inclusive space for dialogue and engagement with art, the gallery has invited artists, small presses, libraries, and organizations to collaborate in the creation of this exhibition to interrogate the concept of family across various selections of printed matter, film, video, and photography.
The library includes selections from Archipelago Books, Blonde Art Books, Ediciones Popolet, Explorers Club of Enrique de Malacca, Melville House, Miniature Garden, New Directions, Primary Information, Purgatory Pie Press, Roof Books, Seven Stories Press, Small Editions, The Song Cave, Stonecutter, Ugly Duckling Presse, Verso, Wendy’s Subway and Word Up Books, with works by artists Erica Baum, Joey Carducci, Kevin Everson, Barbara Hammer, Shigeko Kubota, Sondra Perry, and Bryan Zanisnik.
Our hope is that Elective Affinities: A Library continues to evolve and expand through the creativity, intellect, insight, diversity, connectivity, and power of all who occupy the space.