The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Axle Contemporary, and Artist Brian Fleetwood Partnering for Mobile Artist in Residency Program
The First Collection Event for Fleetwood’s Project will be Held During the Museum’s Art, Music, and More! Event on November 3, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–October 23, 2023–(Santa Fe, NM)–Axle Contemporary and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum are pleased to announce the Mobile Artist in Residency Program, a new collaboration beginning November 2023, and running through the Spring of 2024. Brian Fleetwood (Muskogee Creek) has been tapped as the first Mobile Artist in Residence of the program, with a focus on community identity, jewelry-making, and plastics.
Fleetwood’s project, titled Place/Holding, will culminate with an exhibition hosted by Axle in the spring of 2024 after traveling through Northern New Mexico in the fall and winter of 2023. During this travel, Fleetwood will engage communities in Pojoaque Pueblo, Abiquiú, and at the New Mexico School for the Arts and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), in Santa Fe, to encourage the exchange of recyclable single-use plastics that will later be turned into wearable art. At each stop, Fleetwood will convene meetings to collaboratively design castable jewelry pieces that speak to the identity of each group. Back in his studio, and with assistance from his peer faculty members and students at IAIA, he will create molds for the series of designs and cast a series of jewelry using the previously collected plastic. Fleetwood will then return with the jewelry made from the plastics collected in each location.
“At its core, the project seeks to obtain valuable resources without being extractive or transactional. Our goal is to foster a sense of inclusivity and shared ownership,” Fleetwood said. “The project’s primary focus is the transformation of single-use plastics into meaningful, collaboratively designed small objects meant to be worn or carried on the body.”
In the spring of 2024, the finished jewelry will be available in previously visited locales through capsule vending machines (in exchange for the tokens distributed during the plastic collection phase) and through visits by the Axle Contemporary mobile art space. The mobile art space will also travel around Santa Fe with examples of all the jewelry created, for viewing and for purchase, as well as a display of photographs of the pieces and the process.
COLLECTION EVENT
Santa Fe residents and visitors are invited to meet Fleetwood, learn more about the project, and exchange plastics at the Museum’s Art, Music, and More! First Friday event, on November 3 from 5:00 PM–7:00 PM. Both the Museum’s Art to G.O. truck and the Axle Contemporary truck will be at the event, at 217 Johnson Street in Santa Fe.
At the event, single-use plastics can be dropped off while learning about the artistic process, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of art and culture. It’s a unique opportunity to collaborate and contribute to the creation of meaningful wearable art pieces, emphasizing the transformative power of collective creativity and shared vision.
The following single-use plastics can be exchanged for use in the Place/Holding project:
PET/PETE- Polyethylene Terephthalate #1 HDPE- High Density Polyethylene #2 LDPE-Low Density Polyethylene #4
PP- Polypropylene #5
The Museum will also welcome Adrian Wall (Jemez Pueblo) to fill the galleries with his musical storytelling, traditional and contemporary song, and Native American flute. First Fridays at the Museum offer free admission all day (10:00 AM–7:00 PM) for New Mexico residents and free admission for all visitors from 5:00 PM–7:00 PM.
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For media inquiries, contact:
Renee Lucero
Public Relations Manager, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum 505-946-1063
rlucero@gokm.org
ABOUT THE GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM: Since 1997, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum celebrates the art, life, and independent spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Georgia O’Keeffe lived the final decades of her life, the O’Keeffe has sites and experiences in two historic destinations, Santa Fe and Abiquiú. For more information, please visit gokm.org
ABOUT AXLE CONTEMPORARY: Axle Contemporary is a pioneering mobile art platform that plays a pivotal role in the innovative collaboration with the Mobile Artist in Residence project. Housed within a mobile gallery space, Axle Contemporary has redefined the traditional concept of art exhibitions. In this collaboration, Axle Contemporary serves as both a dynamic exhibition space and a catalyst for community engagement. Their expertise in mobile art installations and exhibitions amplifies the impact of the project, allowing it to reach diverse audiences across different locations.
ABOUT BRIAN FLEETWOOD: Brian Fleetwood is a multifaceted artist, a dedicated faculty member at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), and a proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nations. With a passion for creativity and community engagement, Brian’s artistic journey takes him beyond conventional boundaries. His work not only pushes the boundaries of art but also explores the interconnectedness of culture and sustainability. As the inaugural artist-in-residence for the Mobile Artist in Residency project, Brian brings his unique perspective to the forefront, reshaping the way we perceive art, waste, and collaboration.
Axle Contemporary programming is supported by Axle Projects, Inc. Axle Project’s operations are supported through individual donations and grants, including the City of Santa Fe Arts & Culture Department. This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Exhibitions in the Santa Fe Railyard are made possible through the support of the Railyard Art Project.
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