Clean Slates

For its Present Box series, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art invites artists to interpret the venue’s gift-shop space in whatever way they choose. The most recent one to do so is South Korean Sammy Lee, whose work is presented in the form of detailed artist books. For her Present...

By Bree Davies

March 13, 2014

Audio By Carbonatix

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For its Present Box series, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art invites artists to interpret the venue’s gift-shop space in whatever way they choose. The most recent one to do so is South Korean Sammy Lee, whose work is presented in the form of detailed artist books. For her Present Box exhibit, titled Beat. Spread Out., Lee has transformed the space into a studio and paper-processing plant.

Lee uses joomchi, a traditional technique for creating textured paper by hand with water. Over the course of two weeks, she will make the paper and then turn it into an artist book, working continuously during museum hours; guests are invited to watch throughout the process.

“It’s a really intense process of agitation and stress, one that she translates from an old Korean laundry method,” explains BMoCA’s Mardee Goff. “It is a symbolic ritual for South Koreans, if you can imagine walking through South Korea at night and seeing all of these women doing this repeated beating method of the laundry as it makes a beautiful sound. It’s a cathartic experience.”

Beat. Spread Out. opens today at BMoCA, 1750 13th Street in Boulder, and runs through March 30, with a closing reception on March 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A visit to the Present Box is free; for more information, call 303-443-2122 or visit bmoca.org.
March 17-30, 2014

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Bree Davies is a multimedia journalist, artist advocate and community organizer born and raised in Denver. Rooted in the world of Do-It-Yourself arts and music, Davies co-founded Titwrench experimental music festival, is host of the local music and comedy show Sounds on 29th on CPT12 Colorado Public Television and is creator and host of the civic and social issue-focused podcast, Hello? Denver? Are You Still There? Her work is centered on a passionate advocacy for all ages, accessible, inclusive, non-commercial and autonomous DIY art spaces and music venues in Denver.

Contact: Bree Davies

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Twitter: @cocodavies