Home Land Security at Fort Mason
This site specific work brings together a group of 18 contemporary artists from around the world to reflect on the theme of home land security, Presented by the FOR-SITE Foundation in collaboration with the National Park Service, the artists used inventive media to explore the human impacts of the mechanisms of security and defense. The exhibit is free and there are 3 parking lots which are also free. Ends December 18, 2016.
It is located at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge and the views are tremendous. Pick up a free Home Land Security guidebook that explains the pieces more fully. Let's begin the tour.
In the Nike Administration Building
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| "Concourse" Tirtzah Bassel |
Michele Pred began lobbying for access to the objects confiscated from travelers by the newly established Transportation Security Administration at San Francisco Airport. She used thousands of the sharp or combustible items to create a series of assemblages.
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| "Encirclement" Michele Pred |
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| "34,000 Pillows" Diaz Lewis used and donated clothes |
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| "34,000 Pillows" |
Gorgeous, compelling videos with four human figures isolated on separate screens.
Operation Onymous (FBI Investigation of the Silk Road)
"Lotus Know" by Shiva Ahmadi
images of Owellian creatures carelessly brandishing bombs, hand grenades and pipes. A vimeo of this is here.
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| "Lotus Knot" Shiva Ahmadi |
"Three works from the Storeys Series by Tammam Azzam, however, only one is shown here.
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| from the Storeys series Tammam Azzam acrylic on canvas |
The ‘Refugee Street Studio’ project involves creating photographic portrait studios on the streets of refugee and IDP camps around the world. Webster invites anyone to come have their family and individual portraits taken. The portraits are then printed on site for free with a portable photo printer for people to take home for their family album.
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It was difficult to edit the photos - they were all so beautiful.
Intense video of the artist shaving is body hair. The artist's body becomes the boundary between a migrant's molting of his personal identity and his integration into another culture. Subtext - removal of body hair suggests a process of Westernization or also refer to a Muslim rite of purification before pilgrimage.
note: the room was roped off so we couldn't get very close to the piece. I didn't realize that it was made of gold plated beads on aluminum.
Next location, Battery Godfrey
Pieces are made from spent ammunition. Such craftsmanship.
"AK-47 vs M16" by The Propeller Group
Shots from both weapons penetrate this special gel that simulates human flesh. Weirdly beautiful and the accompanying video is mezmerizing.
"Veterans' Flame by Krzysztof Wodizako
a memorial to the trauma the veterans have suffered and to their comrades who did not survive
Unfortunately, my image didn't capture this piece.
"Some/One" by Do Ho Suh
dog tags forming the armor.
This piece hit me emotionally. I couldn't help tearing up. Something about those floating suitcases and what they contained - hope.
used clothes and materials from everyday life
I was told by the gallery guide that this piece is usually hung from high up in a room.
Next building, Fort Scott Chapel
Five works from the Projectiles series by Shahpour Pouyan
Interesting juxtaposition of these hard, metal, sharp projectiles in the serene chapel.
And then I had to retrace my steps because I missed the sound installation at Battery Marcus Miller.
"2487" by Luz Maria Sanchez
Speakers were placed in a semi circular pattern. The number 2487 is an attempt at quantifying the individuals who lost their lives crossing the US-Mexico border between 1993 and 2006.
I asked the gallery guide about "Ohlone Sacred Land" and was this part of the exhibition. He said that it wasn't but that the curators thought that the message should remain.
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