HAIRSTORIES Curated by Kim Curry for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art The African-American identity has numerous touchstones that have shaped and bound a collective identity but it is fair to say that their abundant, curly, deep-toned hair is one that is gender-less and pervasive. This exhibition was conceived of after the curator, Kim Evans, saw Jo Walla Zolar's Urban Bush Women perform their original choreography of the same title. This eventually led to participation in a 'hairstory' event, a gathering of African-Americans who share their stories about sorting out or reveling in the unique qualities of their hair, much of which has been passed down from generation to generation. Art, invariably, becomes the filter and a platform for these stories to be shared with a broader audience. Those artists included in this exhibition have produced paintings, collage, video, sculptural installations, and photography that in some way imparts the significance of this shared culture. In particular, the barbershop is captured by several artists, including James VanDerZee, Kerry James Marshall, and Deborah Willis. The barbershop is not simply the locale of a monthly grooming; it is where stories are invented and retold, where style is created and proselytized as an identity statement, where young boys and girls might experience a sort of rite of passage into the mix of Black culture. Installation artists Kori Newkirk and Cathleen Lewis refer to distinctive aspect of Black hair grooming (a "pick") and embellishment (hair extensions) to make their point. Other artists in the show include Radclife Bailey, Dawoud Bey, Milton Bowens, Mark Bradford, Sonya Clark, Michael Gaskins, Koho Griffen, David Hammons, Stephen Marc, Beverly McIver, Gordon Parks, Nadine Robinson, Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Cynthia Wiggens, Kehinde Wiley, and Deborah Willis. This exhibition is available for a fee of $12,500 commencing fall 2004. Additional costs are associated with some of the installations in order to bring the artist and possible staff in to oversee the installation. Shipping will be prorated at an estimated cost of $10,000. Ten complimentary catalogs plus all publicity material are included. back to top