Mary Beth Edelson Story Gathering Boxes, 1972 – Ongoing
Presented by Accola Griefen Fine Art
At Art on Paper, Accola Griefen Fine Art will present an edition of Edelson’s important print “Some Living American Women Artists / The Last Supper,” for which the original collage is owned by MoMA. We will also offer silver gelatin prints with hand work from the 1970’s that picture early performance work, wall collages, and participatory work in the form of a selection of the artist’s Story Gathering Boxes.
“I began collecting personal stories in the Story Gathering Boxes from gallery-goers in 1972 because I was interested in breaking down traditional barriers set up between the public, art space and works of art. In addition to inviting people to participate in writing stories for the boxes, a place to sit, linger or have conversation is also provided by situating the boxes on a table with stools ….. The configuration and scale of the boxes was inspired by sacred ancient Egyptian canopic chests that held the organs of the pharaoh.” – Mary Beth Edelson
“The collaborative work included group performances with fellow artists and others held with students at various colleges campuses, alongside a selection from her “Story Gathering Boxes” (begun 1972) in which the artist invites the exhibition viewer to become an active participant. These boxes are made from thick pine with four square sections that each hold manila-colored cards with a question stamped across the top. Each box and set of questions relate to specific themes with which the artist engages the viewer, who can choose to become an active participant in the work by handwriting a response to the prompts. Boxes include “New Beginning” (1989) with the question “Make up a new beginning” on the card, Childhood (1995) with the questions “What was it like to be a girl?” and “What was it like to be a boy?,” and “Domestic Violence” (1995) with the prompt “Stories about domestic violence.” The questions may seem neutral but at the same time elicit strong responses in the participants. Edelson was one of the earliest artists to engage in this participatory method of artistic production.” – Kathleen Wentrack,
Biography of the Artist:
Mary Beth Edelson (1933-2021) is an originator of feminist art practice who was also engaged in other forms of political activism throughout her life. Edelson’s art production consists of diverse media including collage installations, photography, painting, drawing, performance, participatory art, earth body works, land art, and her now iconic posters from the 1970’s, such as Some Living American Women Artists / The Last Supper (Collection of the Museum of Modern Art, NY).
Edelson was a founder of Heresies Magazine and WAC (Women’s Action Coalition). In 1994 Edelson produced Combat Zone: Campaign Hq. Against Domestic Violence, sponsored by Creative Time. Her work is in the collections of museums including the Guggenheim, New York, NY; MoMA, New York, NY; the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; the Walker Art Center, MN and Malmo Konstmuseum, Sweden among many others. The estate of Mary Beth Edelson is represented by Accola Griefen Fine Art.