“Playing With It” is a collaborative art show that encourages its viewers to engage, both mentally and physically, with questions surrounding gender politics. The themes of socially constructed roles, reactions and rules run throughout the work. Bodies are exposed, deconstructed, bent, twisted, recomposed; put on display, while hidden, and even electrified as the viewer’s assumptions and perspectives on gender are called into question. Half of the show is comprised of pieces that require interactivity in hopes that viewers will become participants as well as part of the art itself-- these pieces would not exist without viewer interaction.
The show’s opening was highly attended and well-received, and quotes from the comment book sum up the experience nicely - “I laughed, I blushed, I got a little excited. All in all - success!”, and “Lightbox. Amazing! Haven’t felt that sexy in a while!”, and “Somebody loves you motherfuckers!!!!”
“Playing With It” was produced collaboratively by Adam McRae, Dana Ollestad and Forrest Perrine, with participation from Megan McIssac, Portland, Oregon and Helga Weber, Antipolo, Philippines.
