Press Release: Fixed Values

Hi,

We issued a press release today for our November exhibit, Fixed Value, a series of paintings with a fascinating concept. Read on for more info!

Maggie

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Maggie Santolla McLeod, Press Relations
maggie.santolla@gmail.com

Lele McLeod, Gallery
leleblixa@gmail.com
206-441-3314

Kharis Kennedy's Fixed Value Explores Objectivity in Art at McLeod Residence

Seattle, WA—October 11,2007—New York artist Kharis Kennedy explores the subjective versus the objective with her series of paintings Fixed Value at McLeod Residence during the month of November. Fixed Value opens with a reception on Friday, November 2, 2007 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and runs through November 24.

Fixed Value represents two years of work exploring the fact that a painting is a physical object that, like any other three-dimensional object, can only be objectively understood in terms of its physical properties: light, mass and energy. The series consists of 27 paintings divided into three groups. Each painting uses the same subject matter, a stuffed dog and a flower arrangement, and are all the same size ( 17.25" x 23.25"). The three groups each explore one of the key attributes that describes a physical object: light, mass or energy. Kennedy devised a method to construct the nine paintings in each group that varies only the value of the attribute being studied, while keeping all attributes of the painting constant.

Says Kennedy about the series, "I want to find out what it would feel like to encounter a room filled with the same still life, painted over and over again, varying each time only in order to fulfill different objective criteria."

The series addresses the use of subjective terminology to critique artwork and opposes the notion of "artistic value," instead offering empirical value and measurement for each work of art.

Kharis Kennedy has been working as a studio artist since 1999 and currently lives and works in New York City. She earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing and a BA in Art History at the University of Washington. Though her background is primarily in painting, much of her recent work is conceptual multi-media pieces. Most recently she and long time collaborator Rick McIntire premiered two evening length presentations of Yamabushi + Spielerfrau, a multi-disciplinary performance inspired by the possibilities of the random juxtaposition of their silent film Yamabushi with live music performed by the band Spielerfrau. In the fall of 2007 Kennedy, McIntire, costume designer / sculptor Agata Olek Oleksiak, and dance choreographer Bryon Carr will present "Dr. M. Vs. Capt. R.," a collaborative piece incorporating dance, projected images, recorded music and sculptural costuming.

Kennedy's work has been included in juried exhibitions in New York City and she was recently awarded a 2007-2008 A.I.R. Gallery Fellowship. Fixed Value will be exhibited at A.I.R. Gallery in Manhattan following the McLeod Residence show.

The foyer will also feature photographs by Sami Khoury and the conservatory will host a preview of Cassandra's Nguyen's December exhibit of stuffed giant squid. A separate press release will be issued with details about these exhibits.

The Lounge features McLeod Residence's ongoing installation of neon work by Jeremy Bert and Jen Elek and furniture by Gary Andolina. The Water Closets will continue to house the Barbarian Group's McLeod Mirror Series 1: See Yourself In Others.

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McLeod Residence, located at 2209 Second Avenue in Seattle, Washington, is a home for extraordinary living through art, technology and collaboration. Proprietors Buster McLeod and Lele McLeod founded McLeod Residence in 2006. McLeod Residence is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. For more information, contact McLeod Residence at 206-441-3314 or visit www.mcleodresidence.com.