Artworks > Gate: II

"Gate: II"
2020
Galvanized steel; aircraft cable; acrylic beads; wood; and paint
11 × 16 × 7 ft

Part of "Monuments Now: Call and Response" at Socrates Sculpture Park

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text courtesy of Socrates Sculpture Park

A commemoration of communities that have survived imperialist military occupation, "Gate: II" references the layered histories of Okinawa, Japan, which has endured a heavy United States military presence since World War II. The work combines the aesthetic of the Shinto torii, a gateway to shrines, with the chain link fences of military bases, which often co-opt the Shinto architecture in their own checkpoints. A colorful curtain of acrylic beads, assembled through artist-led community workshops, reflects the individuality of those who brought the work into existence and represents the power of peaceful unity as a confrontation to militarization.

Beading Contributors:
Noriko Rodriguez; Lynnese Page; Julia Wagner; Alexander Bustamante; Sade Amour, Logan Mattocks, Janelle Richards, and Jaylen Stewart of Minor Miracles powered by Socrates Sculpture Park; Youth of City Parks Foundation’s Green Girls program; members of Mindful Astoria; members of Reality House; and Ida Lubarsky, Aaron Lubarsky, Lyam Leibaillif, Luella Lebaillif, Sara Bravo, Yailyn Bravo, Xavier Hamlin, Lucas Hamlin, Chloe Hamlin, Abigail Hogan, Cora Ellison, Devyn Ellison, Amy Ellison, Abhi Tugnait, Ahaan Tugnait, Zelda Mackel, Olympia Mackel, Iris Conoway, Fern Emswiler, Lilou Emswiler, Richard Mazanek, Renee Pappous, Eunjoo Chung, Elise Denis, Suzan Sumer, Nancy Potwinik, Nina Denis, Tessa Denis, and Jennifer of the Socrates Sculpture Park community.