Ethan Shoshan

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StrAnge Birds, 2012

A featured artist project with:

Arthur Aviles, Jill L. Conner, Barry Frier, Bibbe Hansen, Geoffrey Hendricks, Jim Hubbard, Stephen Kent Jusick, Stephen Lack, Agosto Machado, Stefani Mar, Liz McGarrity, Lucia Maria Minervini, Angelo Monaco, Augustmoon Ochiishi, Uzi Parnes, Dennis Redmond, Hunter Reynolds, Charles Rice-Gonzalez, Rob Roth, Edward Rubin, Rafael Sánchez, Arleen Schloss, Gervaise Soeurouge, Sur Rodney Sur, Chris Tanner, Brad Taylor, Gail Thacker, Jack Waters, Kathleen White, Brian “Soigne” Wilson, and Stephen Winter

The Center For Book Arts is excited to present Ethan Shoshan’s featured artist project, StrAnge Birds. This project encompasses vignettes into people’s lives through objects that hold significant personal meaning to them. Through each object on display, a conversation with its caretaker begins; visitors have the freedom to peruse the objects and listen to an accompanying audio guide conversation. It is through these stories that we connect and engage with the person behind the story and gain insight and an intimate connection to something deeper within ourselves. From Bibbe’s relationship with her mom through gathering stones to a realization of home in acceptance of every moment as “perfect,” to SKJ’s first projector providing the construction of personal and social resources that help shape his creative community. A new inspired look at timeless portraiture, weaving together personal archives and institutional archives, forgotten histories, memories, and embodied experiences in a testament and an affirmation of life and its lessons.

Press

ArtNEWS 2015 (PDF)

The New York Times 2013 (PDF)

Filthy Dreams Blog 2013 (PDF)

Chelsea Now 2012 (PDF)

Center For Book Arts Blog 2012 (PDF)

Publications

StrAnge Birds Exhibition Booklet (PDF)

This accompanying online archive of the StrAnge Birds Exhibition contains 31 conversations over the course of 6 months with people I met about an object, place, or idea of importance in their life. Each conversation is approximately 10-15min long and the exhibition contains over 5hrs of material to experience.

In order to get the full experience/story/portrait, I suggest selecting 2-3 objects that you are curious about and listen to the audio link in its entirety. Please do not stop a conversation midway. Feel free to choose more objects if you have time or come back again.

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GERVAISE SOEUROUGE: On Open Doors (8:17) Decoupage suitcase; Courtesy of the caretaker

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STEPHEN LACK: High on Ray, Revelations of Perversity (16:35) Ray Singing, 1967 (photo sequence); Courtesy of the caretaker

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CHARLES RICE-GONZALEZ: On Ganesh and Self Love (10:57) Picture of Ganesh; Courtesy of the caretaker

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RAFAEL SÁNCHEZ: On the Pursuit (8:49) Cuban passport c.1960, book: Marie Curie by Eve Curie w/ copper leaf by Rafael Sánchez, and photo

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DENNIS REDMOND: On Taking a Stand
(7:48) Another Mother for Peace pendant and poster (in bathroom); Courtesy of the caretaker

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LUCIA MARIA MINERVINI: Working on Self, the Juice or the Milk (10:20) Small ceramic plate w/ gold rim and lettering; Courtesy of the caretaker

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AGOSTO MACHADO: On Seeing in the Dark (11:14) Glow-in-the-dark rosary beads; Courtesy of the caretaker

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JACK WATERS: Reflecting on the Possibilities of Infinity (15:00) Circular train mirror (photo)

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GEOFFREY HENDRICKS: On Consciousness (8:59) Ring Piece, 1971, sealed wooden box w/ gold ring and 12 brass bells; Courtesy of the caretaker

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ANGELO MONACO: Picturing the Riddle (5:11) Framed postcard; Courtesy of the caretaker

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BRIAN “SOIGNE” WILSON: On Miss Confidence (5:16) Miss Piggy trouble doll (a gift from his soulmate Brad); Courtesy of the caretaker

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UZI PARNES: On Vessels of Light (13:43) Urn with Jack Smith’s ashes (photo)

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STEFANI MAR: Tuning on a Cellular Level (11:00) Artley sterling silver flute and case, serial #24341; Courtesy of the caretaker

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SUR RODNEY SUR: A Book with its Cover (16:47) Paperback book: A Race is a Nice Thing to Have; Courtesy of the caretaker

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BIBBE HANSEN: On Perfect Stones (16:03) Stones, rocks, pebbles, shells; Courtesy of the caretaker

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GAIL THACKER: On Trust (10:42) Wood magic box w/ materials; Courtesy of the caretaker

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HUNTER REYNOLDS: On Saving the Destruction (11:00) Architectural artifact: from the Hunter Reynolds Papers; Fales Library and Special Collections

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STEPHEN KENT JUSICK: On Personal and Social Resources (12:13) Elmo GS1200 Super8 projector; Courtesy of the caretaker

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JIM HUBBARD: On Doing It (14:09) Jim with film processor (1985/2011)

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AUGUSTMOON OCHIISHI: Between Celluloid and the Sea (12:42) Stamped envelope, autographed postcard of Horst Werner Buchholz; Courtesy of the caretaker

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LIZ MCGARRITY: On Buried Signs and the Roaring 20’s (11:07) Vintage political button c.1926; Courtesy of the caretaker

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KATHLEEN WHITE: On Possession (3:13)

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ARTHUR AVILES: On Form and Vibrance (16:42) Movie trading cards (1977-1979); Courtesy of the caretaker

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JILL L. CONNER: On Social Theater and Habits of Life (8:59) Theater of Dionysus, Athens Greece (photo)

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BRAD TAYLOR: On Being Buck (4:04) Deer antlers; Courtesy of the caretaker

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STEPHEN WINTER: On Transfiguration and Retribution (5:54) Gold cross pendant; Courtesy of the caretaker

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ROB ROTH: Interactive Hub of Inspiration (14:15) Piece of wood from Jackie 60 stage; Courtesy of the caretaker

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EDWARD RUBIN: On Getting It Right the Next Time (8:55) Personal journal 1998 (from a collection of journals, 1980 – ); Courtesy of the caretaker

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BARRY FRIER: On Graduating with Integrity (9:17) Laminated diploma on wood; Courtesy of the caretaker

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ARLEEN SCHLOSS: A to Z, Do What U Love (3:56) Letter A out of wood and metal; Courtesy of the caretaker

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CHRIS TANNER: On Escargot and Spiraling Towards Center (13:05) Snail shaped glass Avon bottle; Courtesy of the caretaker