An Errant Line: Ann Hamilton / Cynthia Schira

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

An Errant Line: Ann Hamilton / Cynthia Schira
An Errant Line: Ann Hamilton / Cynthia Schira
Susan Earle, curator
Gallery 316, Central Court, entryway, facade, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

In a project awarded two consecutive Art Works grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Spencer Museum of Art commissioned internationally recognized artists Ann Hamilton and Cynthia Schira to create room-sized works of art in the Museum’s galleries. Using digital technologies to express the essential nature of cloth and the ways museums organize and communicate the histories of art objects, Hamilton and Schira responded to the commission by exploring through fiber arts the meanings of abstract gestures and notations.

Working with current KU art students and Spencer Museum staff, An Errant Line investigates the artists’ former relationship as student and teacher (Hamilton came to KU in 1976 to study fiber arts with Schira). Transforming multiple galleries with their monumental installations, both artists employ images of and actual objects from the Spencer Museum’s permanent collection to create a rich and surprising tapestry.

Honoring the origins of the project in the student/teacher relationship, the Spencer Museum’s famed Bechstein piano (draped by Ann Hamilton) will host a series of lessons between volunteer master and student pairs. Throughout the run of the exhibition, students, musicians, dancers, and poets are invited to respond to Hamilton and Schira’s coded notations, adapting them to musical, theatrical, and literary dimensions.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Thomas Danforth and Sherman Boardman (active 1810–1850), teapot
Thomas Danforth and Sherman Boardman (active 1810–1850)
circa 1825–1827
kettle
1700s–1800s
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne artist
circa 1870
unrecorded Chokwe artist, chief's headdress with plume
unrecorded Chokwe artist
early 1900s
unrecorded Lakota artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Lakota artist
1861–1889
unrecorded Cheyenne or Sioux artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne or Sioux artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne artist
late 1800s–1962
unrecorded Mande artist, blanket
unrecorded Mande artist
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Lakota artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Lakota artist
late 1800s–1993
unrecorded Kwih-dich-chuh-aht (Makah) artist, feast dish
unrecorded Kwih-dich-chuh-aht (Makah) artist
late 1800s–1926
sample book
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist, ornament
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist
late 1800s–1944
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist, headdress
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist
late 1800s–1944
fly whisk
late 1800s–1908
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist, bundle of cord
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, necklace
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, panis (hairbrush)
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, keyik tɅtehymɁi (face net)
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, needle and piece of niyek (string)
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, titeiyeɁi (carrying strap)
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, rope
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
mid 1900s
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, dacateáto (men's hair tie)
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, necklace
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, sitting belt
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, sitting belt
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, sash?
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, arm band
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, set of three poño or póe (needles)
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, fiber sponge
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, necklace
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, rope
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, peyé (mosquito swatter)
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, caraguata string
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unknown maker, one of two grass tassels
unknown maker
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Maasai artist, beaded necklace
unrecorded Maasai artist
late 1800s–1965
unrecorded Xhosa artist, bridal choker
unrecorded Xhosa artist
mid 1900s–1965
unrecorded Kalaallit (Greenland Inuit) artist, float with line
unrecorded Kalaallit (Greenland Inuit) artist
late 1800s
unrecorded Shilluk artist, doll
unrecorded Shilluk artist
mid 1900s
unrecorded Shilluk artist, doll
unrecorded Shilluk artist
mid 1900s
unrecorded Warao artist, cord for hammock
unrecorded Warao artist
late 1800s–1966
unrecorded Purépecha (Tarascan) artist, fishing net with attached needle
unrecorded Purépecha (Tarascan) artist
late 1800s–1951
spindle with wool
late 1800s–1980
skein of cotton fiber
late 1800s–1904
skein of pineapple fiber
late 1800s–1904
unrecorded Saanich artist, skein of cord
unrecorded Saanich artist
late 1800s–1926
unrecorded Urarina artist, rope
unrecorded Urarina artist
late 1800s–2002
unrecorded Karajá (Carajá) artist, quiver
unrecorded Karajá (Carajá) artist
late 1800s–2007
tumpline
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Pech (Paya) artist, fish hook with line
unrecorded Pech (Paya) artist
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist, broom or fly whisk
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist
1979
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist, fly whisk
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist
1979
unrecorded Saanich artist, ball of cord
unrecorded Saanich artist
late 1800s–1926
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist, bundle of cord
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist
late 1800s–early 1900s
unknown maker, spindle with wool
unknown maker
1850–2007
unknown maker, leather rope
unknown maker
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, plant fiber string
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
1966–1976
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist, cedar bark cord
unrecorded Northwest Coast artist
late 1800s–1926
unknown maker, plant fiber cord
unknown maker
unknown maker, one of two grass tassels
unknown maker
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist, bundle of niyek (string)
unrecorded Iyo'wujwa Chorote speaking artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, caraguata plant fiber
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976
unrecorded Karajá (Carajá) artist, poison darts
unrecorded Karajá (Carajá) artist
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Ayoreo artist, fiber sponge
unrecorded Ayoreo artist
late 1800s–1976

Events

April 8, 2010
Talk
5:00–6:00PM
309 Auditorium
March 2, 2013
Social
6:00–8:00PM
Gallery 317 Central Court, Gallery 316, Gallery 318
March 3, 2013
Activity
1:00–3:00PM
Gallery 316
March 4, 2013
Talk
4:30–5:30PM
309 Auditorium, Gallery 317 Central Court
March 28, 2013
Talk
10:00–11:00AM
Gallery 317 Central Court
March 30, 2013
Activity
10:30–11:30AM
Gallery 317 Central Court
April 18–April 25, 2013
Social
5:30–7:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court, Gallery 319, Gallery 318, Gallery 401, Gallery 404, Gallery 405
June 16, 2013
Activity
1:00–3:00PM
Gallery 317 Central Court

Resources

Documents