Campaigns as Art at GRACE Exhibition

This presidential election season, what if campaigning was seen as art?

That's the perspective of a new exhibition Campaign Re/Form opening at the on Sept. 13.

The exhibition includes new works and existing works as GRACE staffers "work" in a campaign office, says GRACE executive director Damian Sinclair.

"We're turning GRACE into a working campaign office for this," Sinclair says, adding the campaign office will not be in support of any one party or candidate. "I will be working from the gallery whenever I am at work."

"This is meant to me a participatory outlet," he added. "One that is meant as an escape the craziness that is going on."

The exhibition was envisioned by Sinclair, new GRACE curator Holly McCullough and DC performance artist Holly Bass.

Bass says they are trying to create interest and energy by changing the structure of the traditional art installation. Campaign Re/Form will be interactive to "pique interest and raise questions." 

"We are going to shake things up on a lot of levels," Bass says. "Galleries can be intimidating and not that inviting."

In order fix that, GRACE is inviting visitors in at nontraditional hours. The gallery will be open Wednesdays through Saturday noon to 8 p.m. instead of closing by 5 p.m.

"I want people to come in at night and have the energy happen," Sinclair says.

Campaign Re/Form will run Sept. 13 to Oct. 17. There will be an opening reception at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at GRACE.

Participating artists:

John James Anderson
Holly Bass
Kashuo Bennett
Graham Boyle
COLON:Y (chukwuma agubokwu and Wilmer Wilson IV)
Dana Ellyn
Blake Fall-Conroy
Delphine Fawundu-Buford
Kate Kretz
Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky)
Renee Stout