gatherings

83% of residents of NYC, one of the most religious large cities in the US, claims to be affiliated with an organized religion. However, per capita, Pittsburgh has more than 5 times as many places of worship. In response to this, as a non-religious artist, I attended 100 places of worship in Pittsburgh over a period of thirteen months—despite the fact, and because of the fact, that those dedicated to a religious practice and those devoted to an artistic practice are often (not always, but often) quite different people.

I chose from Pittsburgh’s massive pool of nearly 1500 churches, synagogues, mosques and temples of all faiths. My impetus: to challenge religious conflict—to try to understand and take a stand against intolerance.  After each of my 100 visits, in response to each experience, I created a small ink and graphite drawing, shot off-site video, wrote a blog entry and added fabric or embroidery to a dress—a dress that I wore to each visit—a dress that grew and evolved and changed with each observance.

 

gatherings: installation images

Image information appears in lower left when hovering pointer above large image.

 

gatherings: dress

beyond these below, more images are available on gatherings blog:  dress           

Gatherings Dress evolving over time, left to right, top to bottom: 6th visit, Orthodox Jewish service at Poale Zedeck/ 14th visit, Hindu service at Sri Venkateswara Temple (Kedara Gauri Puja, Diwali) / 39th visit, Ukrainian Catholic service at St. John the Baptist/ 52nd visit, Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish service at Choen Chabad House (Passover Seder) / 84th visit, Muslim Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh/ 94th visit, Buddhist service at Three Rivers Dharma Center, Dzambhala practice, Fall Equinox.

Details, far right column, top to bottom: 10th visit, Baptist service/ 14th visit, Hindu service (Diwali chrysanthemum) / 43rd visit, Orthodox Jewish service/ 94th visit, Buddhist service. (2010-2011)

 

gatherings: drawings

100 drawings, total. Beyond these below, more images are available on gatherings blog:  30 of the 100 drawings
Each: ink and graphite on gessoed paper, 5 3/4 x 8 in., 2010-2011

 

gatherings: VIDEO

The following is an excerpt from a video documentation of my ritual comings and goings—my departure for and return form visits 55–62.  (The full video covers visits 1–100.)
To skip video intro, begin at 00:25.

Becky Slemmons statement Eighty-three percent of residents of New York City, one of the most religious large cities in the US, claims to be affiliated with an organized religion. However, per capita, Pittsburgh has more than five times as many places of worship. In response to this, over a period of thirteen months, I attended 100 places of worship in Pittsburgh—despite the fact, and because of the fact, that those dedicated to a religious practice and those devoted to an artistic practice are often (not always, but often) quite different people. And despite the fact that I am not a specifically religious person; that is I do not embrace nor practice a specific belief. Through this project, I aim to challenge religious conflict and to explore the relationship between the ritual of attending worship services and the ritual of making art. Serving as impetus: tolerance. After each of my 100 visits, in response to each experience, I created a small ink and graphite drawing, wrote a blog entry, added fabric or embroidery to a dress—a dress that I wore to each visit—a dress that grew and evolved and changed with each observance. And I created a video of myself leaving for and returning after each visit. This is an excerpt. http://www.gatheringspittsburgh.blogspot.com/