An exhibition that explores the power of objects and superstitions
Organized by Sean Noyce + Katya Usvitsky
Exhibiting artists include Ilona Berger + Andrew Wingler, Sydney Croskery, Rachel Kaster, Sean Noyce + Katya Usvitsky, Elizabeth Preger, and Lena Wolek
In partnership with the City of West Hollywood, Sean Noyce and Katya Usvitsky present Knock on Wood, an interdisciplinary show that explores the objects and symbols that influence our behavior in a visceral way. Noyce and Usvitsky were awarded an Individual Artist Grant by the City of West Hollywood for their installation of the same name. Knock on Wood will be unveiled in West Hollywood’s Plummer Park, the epicenter of Russian culture in Los Angeles.
Superstitions have been a part of human nature since the dawn of civilization. Inspiring reactions that are both cultural and learned, most superstitions are usually so far removed from the original context, the association between object and behavior can seem arbitrary. For example, ancient Egyptians regarded walking under a ladder a desecration of the gods, as a leaning ladder against a wall forms a triangle — the symbol of divine trinity. Centuries later, the tradition was appropriated by Christians who regarded walking under a ladder a sign of death. It was said that a ladder leaned against the crucifix of Jesus Christ and to cross that threshold was an act of betrayal.
While Knock on Wood is relevant to most Americans, persons from the former Soviet Union will find a particular resonance with many of the works. Katya Usvitsky and Lena Wolek carry over many of the traditions from their Soviet upbringing, while Ilona Berger and Elizabeth Preger infuse their sensibilities as second-generation Russian-Americans, responding to the stories from the old country. Others touch on superstitions that remain more personal, like Sydney Croskery’s artifacts collected in a computer database that serve as personal hieroglyphs, or Rachel Kaster’s behemoth charm that references moments germane only to the artist.
Superstitious objects can give the disciple an extra boost of confidence or exacerbate their worst obsessive tendencies. Because the rituals produced can quell our worst fears without confronting them directly, folk pedagogy has persisted alongside the rise of secularism. By redirecting blame upon fate, superstitions provide some semblance of control in a chaotic world.
This exhibition is presented with the support of the City of West Hollywood.
Lena Wolek: Double Check, 2019, 42 x 34 x 12 inches, ceramic
More Information
On view: Oct. 5-20, 2019
Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, 4-8 pm
Address: Plummer Park Long Hall
1200 N Vista St., West Hollywood, CA 90046
Exhibition hours: Friday-Sunday, noon-5 pm, and by appointment
Public transportation: 704 (express) or 4 bus to Santa Monica / Gardner Street
Parking: 2 hour free parking in Plummer Park’s lots on Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue
