The Memory Project: Defining Beauty
The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks, 2020-2021
The Memory Project was installed at The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks from September 2020 through August 2021.
Along with viewing sculptures made from collected memories visitors to the museum were also able to leave their own memory to be added to the collection. Memories are written on strips of delicate gampi paper, on cards of heavy printmaking paper or audio recorded.
A sculpture of skinny strips showcases memories written on delicate gampi paper. Each memory is dipped in wax and hung individually on invisible thread to create a visual and sculptural cascade that gently moves with the air current.
Memories are also hand transferred through a lithographic process with oil based inks onto scrolls of 10 foot long by 36 inch wide transparent gampi paper (you can see master printer Christopher Shore from the Center for Contemporary Printmaking and artist Christine Aaron working on these in the image above) hung in a way such that visitors can walk amid them and read the memories.
An antique library card catalog holds hand written cards to allow people to read and share them with one another.
Finally an audio piece is played through out the space. Click the button below to hear the recorded memories.
It is an incredible honor and privilege to receive and read, to listen to and witness, all the memories shared. Funny, poignant, ordinary, extraordinary, joyful, painful, authentic...each and every one shared provided the opportunity for recognition, laughter, compassion, emotion and validation. Especially in these fraught times, the willingness to share, and listen is powerful and moving. Every single memory is typed and archived on the memory page.
More images and information about Christine Aaron's work can be found on her website:http://www.christineaaron.com/
