deb sokolow believ · 2013 m of art jim jones visits hartford, connecticut, during his fictional...

FEBRUARY 7 – JUNE 30, 2013WADSWORTH ATHENEUM MUSEUM OF ART

Jim Jones visits H Deb Sokolow’s M sentiment seems founder and lead followers to com The popular adag from this unimag beverage spiked Jones’s life.

His troubling life text-and-image-b controversial sub links her to Jones members of Jone passionate reade political science Speier (now a U.S the U.S. Congres to Jonestown tha attack at the airs Washington, D.C. signature subjec

At the age of twe Sokolow witness in spy movies. So different man ex the location for a virtually anywhe impulse for Soko

Part truth, part f on well-research artist identifies a almost-convincin paper, like a supe walls of a gallery diagrams, and ma matters: the larg “secondary” text thinking; and an

BELIEV DEB SOKOLOWMATRIX 166SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE CANDIDATE

WA MATRIX 166 Brochure-3_WA MATRIX 166 Brochure 1/15/13 1:46 PM

2013 M OF ART

Jim Jones visits Hartford, Connecticut, during his fictional run for Congress, in artistDeb Sokolow’s MATRIX project titled Some concerns about the candidate. The title’ssentiment seems warranted when invoking the name of Jim Jones, the notoriousfounder and leader of the People’s Temple cult, who persuaded hundreds of hisfollowers to commit mass suicide at their Jonestown, Guyana, commune in 1978. The popular adage “drinking the Kool-Aid”―or having blind obedience―originated from this unimaginable tragedy, resulting from the consumption of a grape-flavoredbeverage spiked with cyanide. The horrific event also marked the climactic end ofJones’s life.

His troubling life has long fascinated Chicago-based artist Deb Sokolow. Hertext-and-image-based narrative drawings often focus on well-known cultural figures,controversial subjects, and conspiracy theories. Furthermore, her biography indirectlylinks her to Jones. Sokolow grew up in Davis, California, also the hometown of severalmembers of Jones’s inner circle. Her mother was a writer and journalist, as well as apassionate reader of mysteries, thrillers, and spy novels. Her father was a professor ofpolitical science at the University of California, Davis. Among his students was JackieSpeier (now a U.S. Congresswoman), who would go on to serve as an aid to Leo Ryan,the U.S. Congressman shot and killed by Jones’s men while on the fact-finding missionto Jonestown that precipitated the mass suicide. Speier was wounded in the sameattack at the airstrip. Sokolow herself briefly worked for a U.S. Congressman inWashington, D.C. And the nation’s capital is also the site of inspiration for Sokolow’ssignature subject matter.

At the age of twelve, while eating with her mother at a McDonald’s in Washington, D.C.,Sokolow witnessed a life-altering incident―the classic briefcase exchange featuredin spy movies. Sokolow saw one man go into the restroom with a briefcase and adifferent man exit with it. Her world has never been the same. If a McDonald’s can bethe location for an undercover hand-off, such secret activities could take placevirtually anywhere, and likely do. This actual briefcase exchange became the creativeimpulse for Sokolow’s art.1

Part truth, part fiction, and part comedy, Sokolow’s complex visual tales are based on well-researched facts expanded by the fantastical mind of the narrator, who theartist identifies as “you,” making the reader/viewer an active participant in thealmost-convincing events. Sokolow presents the story on large panels or sheets ofpaper, like a super-size comic book that has been taken apart and spread across thewalls of a gallery. Collaged and drawn images―including portraits, photographs,diagrams, and maps―accompany the awkward, handwritten text. The size of the textmatters: the largest text, or “primary” narrative voice, tells the main story; the smaller“secondary” text conveys what you (as the paranoid or unreliable narrator) arethinking; and an even smaller “tertiary” text reveals what you are really thinking but

BELIEVE. JIM JONES FOR CONGRESS OW 66

NDIDATE

ALL IMAGES ARE PRELIMINAR FROM DEB SOKOLOW, SOME CANDIDATE, 2013. MIXED ME COURTESY THE ARTIST & WE CHICAGO. © DEB SOKOLOW


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ALL IMAGES ARE PRELIMINARY SKETCHES AND DETAILSFROM DEB SOKOLOW, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THECANDIDATE, 2013. MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER AND PANELS.COURTESY THE ARTIST & WESTERN EXHIBITIONS,CHICAGO. © DEB SOKOLOW


would never dare verbalize. The artist’s hand is intentionally imperfect, with thegraphite smudged, covered with Wite-Out™, and even masked by black bars, mimickingdeclassified government documents.

Some of Sokolow’s past projects provide context for this new work. In 2010, shecreated You tell people you’re working really hard on things these days, a five-panelwork documenting the activities in and around the Chicago building that houses theartist’s studio, which happens to overlook a central office of the U.S. Postal Service.The story emanates from a highly detailed floor plan of the studio building and itsenvirons. At all hours, from your studio window (while you are “working hard”) youwitness mysterious packages being loaded into the trunk of a red car, and not anofficial USPS vehicle. A postal worker patrolling the parking lot resembles IsmaelZambada García, the leader of the Sinaloan drug cartel, whom you recognize from thenewspaper. These first-hand observations are combined with local news reports ofZambada’s son being held in Chicago on drug trafficking charges and the discovery of a meth lab in your neighborhood. Is the Post Office involved in the transportation ofdrugs? From there, the plot thickens.

In Notes on Denver International Airport and the New World Order (2011), Sokolowinvestigates a long-held conspiracy theory that Denver’s huge new airport, opened in1995, included a covert project to construct an underground bunker to serve as theheadquarters in the western hemisphere for the New World Order, a totalitarianone-world government. A sixteen-hour site visit to the airport by the artist (or “you” asthe paranoid narrator in the art work) results in being tracked through the terminal asyou take photographs, then followed into a restroom, and finally trailed in your rentalcar as you explore the airport’s perimeter, confirming your many suspicions.

The narrator and timely subject of Sokolow’s MATRIX project―Some concerns aboutthe candidate―were inspired by the artist’s site visit to Hartford, and the recent,contentious U.S. Presidential election. At the beginning of the project, the artistdescribed the concept:

The author of this story (…only referred to as “you” throughout the narrative) is anaïve campaign worker who becomes increasingly concerned about the behavior ofthe candidate, Jim Jones, and the campaign’s questionable tactics used to secure a win in an upcoming U.S. Congressional election. The story is fiction, but thecharacter of the candidate―Jim Jones―will be based on real-life People’s Templecult leader Jim Jones, the mind control tactics he used on his followers and thegreat lengths he went to in order to exert influence over politicians and others inCalifornia in the 1960s and 1970s. Also, a fictional, illusion-making campaignconsultant featured in the story, named David Copperfield, will be loosely based on the real-life master illusionist, David Copperfield.2


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[Set in the present day,] a portion of the story will take place inside and outsidethe Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art when the campaign worker records howcandidate Jim Jones journeys to Hartford to give a speech, as John F. Kennedy didon the eve of his U.S. Presidential election in 1960, on the terrace of The HartfordTimes building. Before the speech, Jones, with delusions of grandeur, gazes up atthe image of Kennedy in Robert Rauschenberg’s iconic painting “Retroactive I”(1964), which prominently hangs in [the museum’s] Morgan Great Hall.3

“Some concerns about the candidate” will be tangential, subjective and at timesillogical, and will not be as much of a commentary on politics as it will be anexploration into human nature and the cult of personality phenomenon.4

Sokolow’s mixed- most entertainin accompanying im gripping scenes i detail, are always perfect balance a combines a great exciting new visi

PATRICIA HICKSOEmily Hall Tremaine C


EDUCATION

2004 MFA, School 1996 BFA, Univers

Urbana-Cham

SELECTED SOLO

2013 Some concer MATRIX 166, Hartford, CT

2012 All Your Vulne Moore Colleg

2011 Notes on Den the New Wor New York, NYThe Green Ga

2010 Western Exh

SELECTED GROU

2013 Drawing Time Center, New

2012 Big Reality, 3 curated by B

2011 Artists tell s themselves), Contemporar Drawn to Dis Contemporar Portland, MEin- and outsid BelgiumTerminal Jest Gregory and College, Med

COMMISSIONS

2011 Cover, sprea (Sweden), gu

e and outside er records how

F. Kennedy did f The Hartford

ur, gazes up at troactive I”

Hall.3

and at times will be an

non.4

Sokolow’s mixed-media drawings present ambitious visual tales on the order of themost entertaining mysteries and spy novels, with all the plot twists and turns. Theaccompanying imagery animates and heightens the drama, bringing to mind the mostgripping scenes in film noir and political thrillers. But the books, with their depth anddetail, are always better than the movie adaptations. And Deb Sokolow strikes theperfect balance as both a brilliant storyteller and innovative visual artist. Shecombines a great read with iconic pictorial moments and, in the process, delivers anexciting new vision for narrative drawing.

PATRICIA HICKSONEmily Hall Tremaine Curator of Contemporary Art

DEB WA MATRIX 166 Brochure-3_WA MATRIX 166 Brochure 1/15/13 1:47 PM

EDUCATION

2004 MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago1996 BFA, University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013 Some concerns about the candidate /MATRIX 166, Wadsworth Atheneum,Hartford, CT

2012 All Your Vulnerabilities Will Be Assessed,Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA

2011 Notes on Denver International Airport andthe New World Order, Abrons Art Center,New York, NYThe Green Gallery West, Milwaukee, WI

2010 Western Exhibitions, Chicago, IL

2009 Ground Level Projects: Deb Sokolow,Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL

2008 You are one step closer to learning thetruth, Kemper Museum of ContemporaryArt, Kansas City, MOThe trouble with people you don’t know,Inova [Institute of Visual Arts], Milwaukee, WI

2005 Someone tell Mayor Daley, the pirates arecoming, Museum of Contemporary Art,Chicago, IL

COLLECTIONS

Scottsdale Museum o Scottsdale, AZMuseum of Contempo

American, born 1974, Lives and works in Ch

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2013 Drawing Time, Reading Time, The DrawingCenter, New York, NY

2012 Big Reality, 319 Scholes, Brooklyn, NY,curated by Brian Droitcour

2011 Artists tell stories (mostly aboutthemselves), Scottsdale Museum ofContemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZDrawn to Disaster, Institute ofContemporary Art, Maine College of Art,Portland, MEin- and outside - writing, Voorkamer, Lier,BelgiumTerminal Jest, co-curated by StamatinaGregory and Michael Hall, Delaware CountyCollege, Media, PA

2010 Production Site: The Artist’s StudioInside-Out, Museum of Contemporary Art,Chicago, ILParty Crashers: Comic Book Culture Invadesthe Art World, Arlington Arts Center,Arlington, VA

2009 Heartland, Smart Museum, Chicago, IL2008 Heartland, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven,

The Netherlands2007 Mapping the Self, Museum of Contemporary

Art, Chicago, IL 2006 Drawn into the World, Museum of

Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL

COMMISSIONS

2011 Cover, spread for Paletten Art Magazine(Sweden), guest-edited by Maria Lind

2010 Creative Time. Online comic strip. April 2010http://creativetime.org/comics/sokolow.htmlMuseum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.Production Site: The Artist’s StudioInside-Out (commission for lobby)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2011 Artforum.com Sokolow”. Au

2010 Artforum.com (review). Dec ArtSlant. Ritc of 2010”. De Chicago Tribu Sokolow” (re

2009 Chicago Tribu Brilliance fro 29, 2009

2012 ARTADIA: The Chicago gran Residency, N Dalsåsen, No Norway

WORKS IN THE E

All works courtesy th Exhibitions, Chicago

Some concerns abou Mixed media on six pa50 x 38 in. (each pan

Jim Jones: A Man With Artist book; mixed me 9 x 6 in. (closed)

order of the d turns. The

mind the most heir depth and

w strikes the ist. She

ss, delivers an

DEB SOKOLOW

AWARDS, RESID

A Walk In Nature Or T 2013Artist book; mixed me 9 x 6 in. (closed)

WORKS ON VIEW


ARTIST TALK

MATRIX Gallery TalkSome concerns abou Deb SokolowThursday, February 76 pmSokolow will discuss Eleanor H. Bunce Gall

MEMBER MORNI

MATRIX Gallery TalkBrainwashing and Ma Patricia Hickson, Emi Contemporary ArtFriday, February 159 ‒ 11 amAfter a complimentar Hickson will discuss S fiction, comic book st theories in her MATRI about the candidate.Members Only. Reser Call 860.838.4171

Deb Sokolow, ago, IL

r to learning the of Contemporary

e you don’t know,

al Arts],

ley, the pirates are ntemporary Art,

COLLECTIONS

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art,Scottsdale, AZMuseum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL

Spertus Museum, Chicago, ILThe Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender,and Reproduction, Bloomington, IN

MATRIX 166 is supporte Endowment for the Arts Foundation, Inc.

The MATRIX program is a founding members of th Art’s Contemporary Coa

Support for the Wadswo the Greater Hartford Art and the Connecticut Dep Community Developmen receives support from th Arts, a federal agency.

The Wadsworth Atheneu sponsored by the Mande

1 Sokolow created an accordio Washington, DC, 1986 (2010

2 Project proposal submitted v 3 Ibid.4 Ibid.

American, born 1974, Davis, CaliforniaLives and works in Chicago, Illinois

tist’s Studio Contemporary Art,

Book Culture Invades

n Arts Center, um, Chicago, IL seum, Eindhoven,

eum of Contemporary

Museum of

cago, IL

omic strip. April 2010comics/sokolow.html

ary Art, Chicago. tist’s Studio

for lobby)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2011 Artforum.com. Droitcour, Brian. “DebSokolow”. August 8, 2011

2010 Artforum.com. Ise, Claudine. “Deb Sokolow”(review). December 2010ArtSlant. Ritchie, Abraham. “Chicago’s Bestof 2010”. December 27, 2010Chicago Tribune. Waxman, Lori. “DebSokolow” (review). December 10, 2010

2009 Chicago Tribune. Viera, Lauren. “MoreBrilliance from Deb Sokolow” (review), May29, 2009

2008 Kansas City Star. Thorson, Alice. “Kempermystery exhibit is a you-dunit” (review)Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Schumacher,Mary Louise. “Miranda July meets MarkLombardi” Elms, Anthony. Exhibition Essay for Thetrouble with people you don’t know

2006 Art Papers. Elms, Anthony. “Deb Sokolow”(review)

2012 ARTADIA: The Fund for Art and Dialogue,Chicago grant cycleResidency, Nordisk KunstnarsenterDalsåsen, Norwegian Ministry Of Culture,Norway

2010 Residency, Art Omi, Ghent, NY

WORKS IN THE EXHIBITION

All works courtesy the artist & Western Exhibitions, Chicago

Some concerns about the candidate, 2013Mixed media on six panels50 x 38 in. (each panel)

Jim Jones: A Man With A Vision For Your Future, 2013Artist book; mixed media on paper9 x 6 in. (closed)

The Truth About David Copperfield, 2013Artist book; mixed media on paper9 x 6 in. (closed)

Related ephemera: The briefcase of DavidCopperfield, suit scraps, pendant

OW

AWARDS, RESIDENCIES, AND FELLOWSHIPS

A Walk In Nature Or The Faces Of Former Bosses,2013Artist book; mixed media on paper 9 x 6 in. (closed)

Treasures Found Inside The Wadsworth AtheneumMuseum of Art, 2013Artist book; mixed media on paper9 x 6 in. (closed)

WORKS ON VIEW IN THE AUERBACH ART LIBRARY AT THE WADSWORTH ATHENEUM


ARTIST TALK

MATRIX Gallery TalkSome concerns about the candidateDeb SokolowThursday, February 76 pmSokolow will discuss her MATRIX project in theEleanor H. Bunce Gallery.

MEMBER MORNING | CURATOR TALK

MATRIX Gallery TalkBrainwashing and Magic SpellsPatricia Hickson, Emily Hall Tremaine Curator ofContemporary ArtFriday, February 159 ‒ 11 amAfter a complimentary continental breakfast,Hickson will discuss Sokolow’s use of truth andfiction, comic book strategies, and conspiracytheories in her MATRIX project Some concernsabout the candidate.Members Only. Reservations Required. Call 860.838.4171

ch in Sex, Gender, , IN

MATRIX 166 is supported with funds from the NationalEndowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and The DedalusFoundation, Inc.

The MATRIX program is also supported by the current andfounding members of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum ofArt’s Contemporary Coalition.

Support for the Wadsworth Atheneum is provided in part bythe Greater Hartford Arts Council's United Arts Campaignand the Connecticut Department of Economic andCommunity Development Office of the Arts, which alsoreceives support from the National Endowment for theArts, a federal agency.

The Wadsworth Atheneum film program is generouslysponsored by the Mandell Family and Data-Mail.

1 Sokolow created an accordion-folded artist’s book on the formative experience titled Briefcase Exchange, McDonald’s,Washington, DC, 1986 (2010) in a unique edition of five. See www.debsokolow.com for more information.

2 Project proposal submitted via email by the artist to the author, 2 June 2012. 3 Ibid.4 Ibid.

600 Main StreetHartford, Connecticut 06103(860) 278-2670

www.wadsworthatheneum.org

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RTH ATHENEUM

FILM SERIES | “SPY THIS!”

Friday, February 15 ‒ Saturday, March 30 Deb Sokolow’s MATRIX project Some concernsabout the candidate is a commentary on politics,mind control, and human nature. During Februaryand March we explore nine thrillers that deal withpolitics, corruption, and the human condition. Filmdiscussions follow screenings. Film admissionincludes admittance to the MATRIX exhibition. For film titles and times, visit:www.wadsworthatheneum.org


deb sokolow believ · 2013 m of art jim jones visits hartford, connecticut, during his fictional...

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