The Matthew C. Shackelford Gallery Presents: Matthew C. Shackelford
An installation in five parts, "The Matthew C. Shackelford Gallery Presents: Matthew C. Shackelford" is a satirical work meant to provoke the and explore the ego of the artist. Visually the piece is presented as a gallery within a gallery. Inside of which were photographs, sculptures, video, and painting. The show was presented opening night in performance as well. The artist created an alter ego of himself meant to purport a heightened sense of self importance. The main theme was that great works of art were made great because he was involved.
Those lucky enough to see him opening night were not allowed to interact with the artist directly, even going so far as to break the university tradition of receiving questions after the artist talk. Instead, a personal assistant served as an inbetween on an individual basis, and in answering the crowd's questions. A docent was also present on opening night to give guided tours of the exhibit. The docent was in fact an improvisational actor whose only cue was to "talk about the greatness of Matthew C. Shackelford."
Staging was very important to the artist as everything was meant to have an obnoxious presence, but presence nonetheless. Every piece was titled as officially "On loan from the Matthew C. Shackelford Foundation," and the dates were arbitrary roman numerals that place the artist at both times late in the past, present, and far in the future. The audience was presented with a large painted autograph scrawled across the back wall, as to claim totally the space. To the left was projected the wall scale video piece "Matthew C. Shackelford Watches Andy Warhol," and to the right was a collection of images entitle "The Life and Times of Matthew C. Shackelford." On the front wall was a "quote" from Herman Melville speaking to the abilities of Matthew C. Shackelford.
Those lucky enough to see him opening night were not allowed to interact with the artist directly, even going so far as to break the university tradition of receiving questions after the artist talk. Instead, a personal assistant served as an inbetween on an individual basis, and in answering the crowd's questions. A docent was also present on opening night to give guided tours of the exhibit. The docent was in fact an improvisational actor whose only cue was to "talk about the greatness of Matthew C. Shackelford."
Staging was very important to the artist as everything was meant to have an obnoxious presence, but presence nonetheless. Every piece was titled as officially "On loan from the Matthew C. Shackelford Foundation," and the dates were arbitrary roman numerals that place the artist at both times late in the past, present, and far in the future. The audience was presented with a large painted autograph scrawled across the back wall, as to claim totally the space. To the left was projected the wall scale video piece "Matthew C. Shackelford Watches Andy Warhol," and to the right was a collection of images entitle "The Life and Times of Matthew C. Shackelford." On the front wall was a "quote" from Herman Melville speaking to the abilities of Matthew C. Shackelford.