THINGS NOT SEEN BEFORE: A TRIBUTE TO JOHN CAGE :: Group Exhibition
01.12.2012
In celebration of the 2012 centenary of experimental composer John Cage’s birth, Tempus Projects is proud to present THINGS NOT SEEN BEFORE: A TRIBUTE TO JOHN CAGE, a visual art exhibition organized by Independent Curator Jade Dellinger. Inspired by a line from a letter the curator (as a student in the 80’s) received from the late, great composer concerning the work of Marcel Duchamp, Cage noted: “I am not interested in the names of movements but rather in seeing and making things not seen before.” According to Jade Dellinger, “The artworks will be positioned on the gallery walls by utilizing John Cage’s own (rather unorthodox) chance operations-based installation method, and, as several of the works on paper serve a dual-function as ‘graphic scores’, there remains the potential for musical interpretation of the artworks on exhibit.” As the curator continues, “As his own practice made abundantly clear, I believe John Cage would have appreciated our modest tribute and this potential for 'things not heard before' too.”
Additional Programming:
Robbie Land ::16mm Cine-Performance
01.27.2012
Filmmaker Robbie Land will be performing his 16mm Cine-Performance. Some of Land’s films use the camera unconventionally (and at times don’t use a camera at all) bringing to mind Cage’s prepared piano pieces and fondness for chance. Brian Taylor, Sleep of Reason Cinema Series curator, will be presenting work inspired by John Cage.
Wall Music
02.04.2012
Organized by Paul Reller, Associate Professor of Music at USF, Wall Music is a collection of musical compositions from composers at the USF School of Music. The composers lend their musical responses to Jade Dillinger’s “Things not seen Before” show, and sonically interpret the art and sound of this exhibition. Featuring special guest Ray Villadonga.
"That Tempus Projects has not only survived this first decade, but continued to thrive is a rather remarkable achievement and due cause for celebration. As an independent curator working closely with the U.S.F. Contemporary Art Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art, I took every opportunity through the 1990's and aughts to develop projects that would resonate broadly within our community and to think collaboratively - bridging larger art institutions with local artist-run collectives, organizations like Metropolitan Ministries, the Museum of Science & Industry, The Tampa Tribune, Tampa Theatre and others. When commissioned by the TMA to curate a John Cage installation in celebration of the artist/composer's 2012 birth centenary, I approached our dear friend and visionary Tempus Projects founder Tracy Midulla with a proposal to curate concurrent shows.
A breakfast or two at Nicko's Diner later, and "Things Not Seen Before: A Tribute to John Cage" found it's place on the exhibition schedule. Cage-inspired performances were booked and Tracy and I met with Theo Wujcik to commission a large portrait of John Cage as a passable entryway painting on Mylar strips fit to fill the void of Tempus' open/rolled-back garage door. The Tampa Museum helped to cross-promote the shows and coordinated openings and related events as participating artists including Christian Marclay, Kraftwerk's Emil Schult and others flew in to attend the festivities in both locations. Yoko Ono tweeted about our events to her 5-million plus followers, and the John Cage Trust at Bard College wrote a feature for their website - which led to additional coverage in the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and elsewhere. The TMA and Tempus shows were "combined" for travel to the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery in Fort Myers a few months later - which ultimately led to my arrival at Florida Southwestern State College the following year.
I feel forever indebted to Tracy and Tempus as a curator (and now Director of the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at FSW), but primarily as a Tampa resident (at least on weekends), frequent Tempus visitor and enthusiast. The consistency of quality programming is impressive and I could not be more appreciative and truly grateful that our paths continue to cross.”
Jade Dellinger, Director, Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, Florida Southwestern State College
