Shifting the interior space of testsite into a small city, the collaboration between Jennifer, Ian, and Tom investigates the process of building structures while tearing down power positions in an ethical, legal, and visual vocabulary. With their first artistic collaboration Tom and Ian imagined and built a city, New Dursley, that adapts existing features of the space (architectural elements and furniture) to define and classify various aspects in correlation to different parts of a cityóresidential, commercial and industrial zones. The formation of a city map on the floor created from colored vinyl tape functions as a method of leading the viewer to the Home Office wherein the residue of the planning and building of the city in the form of plans, sketches, and construction debris remains.
Working with a qualified town planner during the design of the project, Tom and Ianís environment appears to be fully functional, yet is to scale in the house setting. As an expression of the insurmountable nature this task poses in reality, the two artists, self-appointed as city officials, willingly infringed upon and broke various legal and ethical codes during the designing and building process. Consequently, a lawsuit has been initiated which highlights the artistsí lack of qualifications and knowledge relating to their official positions. Jenniferís contribution to the project is comprised of an investigation into the artistsí background and knowledge in regard to city planning, fabrication of an official report to the city council on the unlawful activities perpetrated, and the creation of additional written materials displayed within the site.
Born in Bristol U.K in 1975, Tom Harris currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. His interest in sculpture has steadily grown, beginning with a BFA from The University of Central Lancashire, U.K. and his receipt of a MFA in Sculpture from The University of Texas at Austin. While working as fabricator for Paul McCarthy’s Studio in Los Angeles Harris has actively shown his work in various exhibitions. Venues include The Latch Gallery, Los Angeles, California; Bassworks Gallery, Los Angeles, California; Austin Design Center, Austin, Texas; and the University of Houston, Texas.
A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Ian Pedigo (born 1973) has lived, worked, and studied in Texas and abroad. After earning his BFA from the University of Dallas, Texas he traveled to study with Ilya & Emilia Kabakov and Boris Groys at the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts, Salzburg, Austria. After returning stateside, he received a MFA from the University of Texas at Austin. Currently residing in Long Island City, New York, Ian has had solo exhibitions at Artists Space Gallery, New York and Cactus Bra Space, San Antonio, Texas and his sculptural works have been included in group exhibitions at such venues as 65 Hope Street Gallery, Brooklyn, New York; Austin Museum of Art, Austin, Texas; Galerie 5020, Salzburg, Austria; Hohensalzburg Festung, Salzburg, Austria; and the Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas.
Jennifer Jankauskas is an independent curator and writer currently based in San Antonio, Texas. For almost fifteen years, she has focused on curatorial projects involving photography and contemporary art for non-profit art spaces. Additionally, Jennifer has organized panel discussions, lecture series, symposia, and film and video series. Upcoming projects include exhibitions at the University of Texas, San Antonio and the Lab at the Roger Smith Hotel, New York. Her writings have appeared in ArtLies, Perla, and on Glasstire Texas Visual Art Online.