Sara Schwabe: Renegade artist
On the afternoon of her closing party at UT's Ewing Gallery, Requia sat down with me in the nearby courtyard to discuss her show, as well as her very conscious departure from traditional visual art. As a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Requia Gray's main concentration is in sculpture, but she has chosen unification as the primary medium for her thesis project. She combines painting, papermaking and Hip Hop to create a unique and interactive experience for herself as an artist, and also for her audience.
Where does Hip Hop come in?
Among other things, Hip Hop has always been a vehicle for self-expression. It broadcasts the evolution of Urban street culture and infiltrates mainstream society. Hip Hop has the power to translate very specific cultural instances into a vibrant language heard by millions. Requia believes that her work "is not inspired by, but a part of Hip Hop". A native New Yorker of African & Puerto Rican decent, she absorbed the creative culture that surrounded her. Similarly, Hip Hop absorbs little bits from each society it encounters, thus becoming a representation of countless cultural expressions. This innate inclusiveness makes Hip Hop a natural accompaniment to an artistic enviroment people from all walks of life are encouraged to experience. Bringing people together is Requia's mission - and what makes her a rengade in the all-too-often exclusive artworld.
In most every way, this particular artshow rebels against traditional gallery culture. Normally, art is not meant to be touched - just viewed from a safe distance. To Requia, art is at its best when you can touch and breathe and live in it. She wants you to immerse yourself in the whole artistic experience. What she devised is anything but mainstream and wasn't an easy concept for her colleagues to get their minds around.
She has built and designed hundreds of intricate paper masks that will be available for purchase/loan the night of the ball. When I asked her the signifigance of a Masquerade Ball, she explained that historically, that kind of event was the one night of the year when rich and poor, mannered and common, black and white would intermingle without regard to class, status or race. The mystery prevented judgement and encouraged that fun be had by all.
Tomorrow's Masquerade Ball, presented by the Kiki-Cinza Movement, will follow suit. A DJ will be playing Hip Hop music from 8pm til midnight. Attendees are encouraged to express themselves with their dress (according to the wall at her UT exhibit, "dress to impress") and wear the beautiful handmade masks. The event will be hosted by the incomparable Paj Jackson, a staple figure in Hip Hop music videos. She will also be introducing a new champagne cocktail that night, called the "Paj Royale".
Art, cocktails, beautiful people and social change - what could be better than that?
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