Embracing the Farb: Modes of Reenactment November 15, 2012

“Embracing the Farb: Modes of Reenactment” explores how artists have impulses and motives similar to reenactors. Yet in their work, they embrace the entire continuum of authenticity. Used in the community of historical reenactment, “farb” is a derogatory term to describe the least authentic of reenactors - someone who is not concerned with, or fails to achieve historical accuracy. However, in an artistic practice, “farb” is not such a dirty word.

The exhibition seeks to expand viewers’ understanding of reenactment by compelling them to think about alternate or related strategies that artists employ through elements such as setting and context, costume, play, archetypes, story, performance and history. Visitors to the exhibit will see a twenty foot long recreation of wall of flotsam found on the shores of Japan following the 2011 tsunami created by Heather Mekkelson, large scale photographs of the interiors of children's play sets by Steve Nyktas, an installation by Kirsten Leenaars, documentation of performances by Jefferson Pinder and a video installation by Lori Felker.

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