Our Literal Speed, 2011 (Selma, Alabama)
This whole entire project kind of situates itself in a rich muddy pool – where you don’t really know what you’re looking at. The interesting thing about that is that everyone is equally uncomfortable.
If Our Literal Speed were a marathon, Abbey Shaine Dubin looks in fine running form as she approaches the finish line. Arriving here in Banff at the beginning of 2012, having been awarded a Paul D. Fleck Fellowship for her unique achievements and innovation, she is hard at work. Here she shares a glimpse of her seven-year process – transitioning from academia to producing critical, performance exhibitions.
Gustave Courbet, The Artist's Studio, oil on canvas, 1854-55.
Right from the start I knew – I’m going to do this for seven years. My inspiration is this Courbet painting, ‘The Artist’s Studio; A real allegory summing up seven years of my artistic and moral life’. Right now I’m working on the book that sums up the moral dilemmas making an artist over seven years. I’m writing an airport novel. I mean it’s pulpy- it’s not heavy on theory.
Abbey Shaine Dubin relaxed in the last leg of her seven year project 'Our Literal Speed'.
2006: Transition from academia and lack of agency to positioning as a producer.
2007: Beginning to explore theory installation performance text events.
2008: International exhibits, launching pad for finding key collaborators.
2009: “Was a bit of a lull … actually 2009 was when we got a lot of bad reviews!”
2010: Began critical, guerilla-style museum interventions.
2011: Invited to participate in MOMA – Symposium on Symposia.
2012: And now the book. Preparing the book and opening up a gallery space in Selma, Alabama.
Our Literal Speed, 2010 (Gallery Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan IT)
It’s incredible to be here at the Centre and have this support. It’s an adverse, market-driven art world out there. The offer to come here – work – live …you just don’t find that. And the resources are fantastic – I think I easily have 25 library books in my room that I should probably start bringing back!
