May 10 – August 6, 2010
Reception: May 22, 2010, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
This exhibit offers the chance for museum visitors to witness the creation of art and participate in its creation as well, thereby providing a very clear and distinct departure from the standard museum experience. “Sumi Ink Club marks the first time we are inviting members of the public to collaboratively create an exhibition at the museum,” said RAM Curator Lee Tusman. “Visitors to the museum on May 10, 11 and 12th will get the chance to collaboratively draw huge contemporary murals using traditional Japanese sumi ink. The work will stay on view for 3 months for the entire community to enjoy.” RAM is excited to give the public the opportunity to make choices and engage in activities that will vary the experience from person to person.
Sumi Ink Club is a Los Angeles-based drawing collective founded in 2005 by Sarah Anderson and Luke Fischbeck. The group holds regular open meetings to execute topsy-turvy, detailed, collaborative drawings using ink on paper. In each of its permutations, Sumi Ink Club uses group drawings as a means to open and fortify social interactions that bleed into everyday life. Sumi Ink Club is non-hierarchical: all ages, all humans, and all styles. Their hope is to build community through sharing the experience of making collaborative art.
Sumi Ink Club has chapters throughout the world and has exhibited their work in museums such as: Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles, CA), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art (New York City, NY, as part of their 2008 Whitney Biennial), Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington D.C.), Walker Arts Center (Minneapolis, MN), Para-Site Gallery (Hong Kong), and Institute of Contemporary Arts (London). They have also offered workshops in museums and universities around the world, including: Stanford University, Emerson College (Boston, MA), Brown University (Providence, RI), MICA (Baltimore, MD), École Estienne (Paris, France), The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Denmark), National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (Taichung, Taiwan), and AIMAS (Ogaki, Japan). The group has received a George Peabody Gardner Fellowship, a Rhode Island State Council for the Arts Fellowship in New Genres, and a Harvestworks New Works Residency.