Michael Mandiberg will have an installation on view at Eyebeam this Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, from 3–6 p.m. as part of Eyebeam Open Studios .

The central piece featured, FDIC Insured, is a collection of cast-off investment books from the Strand’s dollar racks, engraved with the logos of all of the failed banks of the Great Recession. Mandiberg explained that it is a monument to the current economic crisis. In a sense, Mandiberg has excavated our country’s past misfortunes and brought them to life through his use of laser-cutting technology, at a time when it hits home to so many of us. After viewing the show, I got the chance to sit down with Michael and we spent a good deal of time throwing around ideas for future installations of this piece. I can’t say too much but if you have a few-stories-high atrium, give me a ring. 

Along the right side of the wall are laser-cut drawings of security patterns from the inside of security envelopes, that were scanned, created into Illustrator files and then laser cut.

 

Before and After is made from 1982 and 1992 World Book Encylopedias, enscribed with things that were (Free Love, Analog, Prisoner of War) and things that are (HIV/AIDS, Digital, Enemy Combatant).  For me, the vacillation between ironic humor and current social/political issues does not curb the effectiveness and impact of the works but instead highlights the scope of Mandiberg’s artistic ideas and visions. Michael says he ”likes taking dictionaries and turning them into memorials”, and so throughout the installation there are altered reference books acting as “memorials” to the books we have all seemed to stop using, opting for today’s technology to instantly provide us with answers. 

This piece (below) in the World Book Dictionary expresses his reaction to seeing dictionaries actually in use.

In a video by Graham Parker, Michael speaks for himself, eloquently describing his techniques and influences on his work:

Michael Mandiberg studio visit from Graham Parker on Vimeo.

Eyebeam Open Studios
Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, from 3-6 p.m.

Guided tours of artists’ work will be given every hour.
Work on view from Fellows and Resident Artists:

Ayah Bdeir
Jeff Crouse
Steve Lambert
Michael Mandiberg
Diana Eng
Scott Kildall
Ligorano/Reese
Rashaad Newsome
Marina Zurkow

This entry was posted on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm by Jeffrey Teuton and is filed under at jen bekman. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.