RATIONALIZE & PERPETUATE: Video Installation by Sandra Stephens

March 23, 2013 to May 18, 2013

 

Sandra Stephens, Digital Image Appropriation (2012) of “Keep This Horror From Your Home, Back Up Our Battleskies” World War II poster, date unknown

Sandra Stephens’ exhibition was an  in-depth look at how culture contributes to our construction of identities.
Pieces looked at race, class, gender and sexuality. She explored how war propaganda simplifies and objectifies the view of the “other” – the “enemy”; the effect our visual culture has on identity, and how these both affect the lives and identities of children. Her video work also touched on stereotyping and the danger it presents. She exposed how and why we stereotype, and how stereotyping contributes to historic and current-day events.

This was ArtRage’s first-ever solo exhibition by a video artist. Our darkened gallery featured audio and video projections.  Several captured the wisdom of children and pulled the viewer in playing with perceptions; both of the projected image and its blurred relationship to reality.

 

Thank you to our exhibition sponsors: John & Dolores Brule, Dik Cool, Annemarie Deegan, the Holtz Family Fund,  Deirde Neilen and Ron VanNorstrand. Special thanks to our 2012-13 Season Sponsors: Ruth Putter & The Left Tilt Fund.

This exhibition was made possible with funds from New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, a State Agency, and CNY Arts, a Regional Arts Council.