Lecture Paper #2 Exhibition

“DOC/UNDOC” by Felicia Rice with collaboration by Guillermo Gomez Pena, Jennifer Gonzalez, Gustavo Vazquez, and Zachary Watkins. 

               

  As an avid reading, I understand the potential of a book. It has the potential to change a view point or create a safe space to grow. The Shepard Contemporary Gallery in Church Fine Arts building has an exhibit feature the concept of the book called Expanded Reading: The Book to Come curated by Professor Inge Bruggeman of the art department. The purpose of this exhibit according to the introduction is to “explore the book as art and the book as a site for artistic exploration. In particular, for it to offer an expanded reading experience”. Using a mixture of digital media, the gallery exhibit goes beyond the “mundane chore of storing and conveying everyday utilitarian information” to draw the audience into the “book”. There were books stitched into cloth, or a book turned into a scroll the reader could see as they turned the attached crane. However, the most striking concept of a book was the “DOC/UNDOC” by Felicia Rice with collaboration by Guillermo Gomez Pena, Jennifer Gonzalez, Gustavo Vazquez, and Zachary Watkins.

                This piece was created in 2013. It has been placed on a long table, with the pages of the booking laid flat. It appears to be able to folded up with the becoming the cover and back parts of the book. What is most striking about each page is the colorful picture that draws the audience in, which allows them to discover that each page also has a passage hidden on the bottom right hand corner. The significant of this piece that each paragraph tells a small insight into being a Mexican American. For example, one page talks about the reoccurring trend of national security since 9/11, saying at one point “I truly wonder who is scarier? The Tijuana Cartel or the Minutemen? A Chicago gang banger or a Blackwater mercenary?”. This is the beauty of “DOC/UNDOC”. Upon first glance, you think it’s just pages with pretty and creative drawings, but in reality it is a political commentary piece about racism against Hispanics in the U.S. I am drawn to stuff like this because it’s a subtle, yet passionate attempt to express reason and encourage empathy. And I also really like the creative ways these artists interpreted the concept of a book.