“Empathy” Exhibition

Smack Mellon

poster for “Empathy” Exhibition
[Image: Elisabeth Smolarz "Amelia 4:00h New York" (2017) photograph, 21 x 17 in. Courtesy of the artist.]

This event has ended.

Curated by Gabriel de Guzman

Divisive rhetoric has reverberated in our current political climate, and empathy has proven to be a challenging sentiment for many Americans to conjure. This exhibition features artists who reveal a capacity for empathy, a willingness to reflect on another’s perspective or to understand those whose backgrounds differ from their own. Rather than propose empathy as a solution for today’s societal ills, this exhibition also acknowledges the limitations of “walking in other people’s shoes.” To empathize, in this case, is to look at someone else’s belief systems in relation to one’s own worldview, to better comprehend why we believe what we believe, while recognizing that no one can ever truly perceive someone else’s struggle. Through an attempt to appreciate another’s experiences and values across social, political, and cultural divides, progress can be made toward finding common ground and fostering an environment of mutual respect.


For her ongoing photo series, Encyclopedia of Things, Elisabeth Smolarz will invite individuals to make a collaborative still life image that reveals a sense of identity and selfhood. Through engaged dialogue, Smolarz will work with each participant to arrange the irreplaceable items into an installation for the camera. The resulting photograph becomes a non-concrete portrait that tells an enigmatic, yet personal story of the individual.

Make an appointment with the artist on a Sunday afternoon and bring objects of personal significance. Time slots available at 12:30, 2:00 and 4:00 PM, every Sunday from November 18 through December 30.

Media

Schedule

from November 17, 2018 to December 30, 2018
Elisabeth Smolarz "Photo Sessions" Every Sunday November 17-December 30 12:30, 2:00, and 4:00 PM

Opening Reception on 2018-11-17 from 18:00 to 20:00

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