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On Sunday, September 15th Emily Auchincloss and Kate Holcomb Hale presented, To Lay On Ground And Sky, a gathering and exhibition of fiber-based works at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA. For one day only, Kate and Emily transported artworks outdoors that were both monumental and fragile. Kate’s soft architectural elements stretched and leaned into the trees and lawn while Emily's hand-dyed, silk works were enlivened by the breeze as they shimmered in dappled sunlight. The duo employed improvisation, play and experimentation as they situated their works in a public park making their artwork accessible to a broader audience.
The built structures of museums, galleries and institutions can act as barriers to viewing art because they can feel intimidating and uninviting. The park setting allowed for ease of entry and an element of surprise for unknowing visitors. Social engagement and gathering community were also essential components of the day as friends, family, park visitors, children and dogs intermingled with each artwork.
Emily and Kate encourage collaboration and participation in their respective practices by creating art that people actively encounter. They want people to be awed, delighted, to feel provoked and become curious. They want others to experience sensations and feelings they normally wouldn’t.
At To Lay On Ground And Sky Kate’s soft speed bump interrupted a paved walkway slowing the movements of those who passed by. Adults and children hopped over it. Others adjusted their path around it. One woman brazenly kicked it aside as she confidently walked by. While Kate didn’t anticipate a physical reaction to her speed bump, she embraced it and simply set it back into place. Delight and irritation coexisted that day because Emily and Kate conjured a space of care and possibility that could shoulder a multiplicity of interactions.
Photography by Joetta Maue
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