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.
