performance art – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

After a drive from Rhode Island School of Design to Erie PA and then today to Braddock, PA, Justin Sorensen is setting up his artwork for Friday night’s opening at UnSmoke Artspace . Yesterday’s blogpost showed Aaron Meyers installing his portion of the exhibition but Justin hadn’t arrived yet.

I called Aaron and asked if I could come over and shoot Justin for the blog and he said it was fine by them.

I drove over with my neighbor who can’t make the opening so he could catch a preview of the exhibition. Justin was a good sport and we didn’t stay too long as they were really busy completing the final preparations. Twenty four hours later and Aaron was still drilling into the brick walls.

They took a break and showed us around and I was able to capture Justin and his artwork for today’s post and photos. Opening Friday night at 6 PM. Unsmoke Artspace 1137 Braddock Avenue, Braddock PA.

Justin Sorensen and Aaron Meyers at UnSmoke Artspace in Braddock PA, ready for Friday night’s opening of (Voice of rational being)

May 11, 2012 by Ruth Categories: Art, PhotographyTags: (Voice of rational being), architecture, art exhibition, art installation, art show, artists, Braddock PA, Bucknell University, drawing, emerging artists, Justin Sorensen, performance art, Pittsburgh PA, printmaking, Rhode Island School of Design, sculpture, travel, UnSmoke Artspace 6 Comments

After school on Wednesday, I drove to Braddock. Directly across from the Edgar Thomson USS Mill is an old Catholic school building that’s been transformed into a spacious art gallery. UnSmoke Artspace.

This Friday night (May 11th 6-9PM) is the opening of (Voice of rational being) An exhibition featuring the works of Aaron Meyers and Justin Sorensen.

I was fortunate to spend an hour or so watching Aaron set up some of his work and followed him around, shooting and talking and only once did he ask me to hold a plank while he drilled into the brick wall so I wasn’t too useful. He was gracious and explained his exploration of materials and how he had transported the art in a truck and what his performance would be during the exhibit.

One thing that struck me is how Aaron inquired about my teaching at school AND about what my blog is about. So although I was there for the purpose of photographing him and his art, he expressed interest in what I do and it was an easy exchange. Aaron has empathy and understanding for the teaching as his mom and I are colleagues. He told me how almost every school he attended in the city is now closed.