PECHAKUCHA NOTES – Sarah Ayers
On November 11, 2021, we were delighted with our second members’ PechaKucha. Four members were chosen through an open call to discuss their current and recent curatorial projects in the form of PechaKucha presentations: 20 slides are presented while a presenter has 20 seconds to comment on each slide, for a total presentation of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
You can now follow the selection of these contributions in our blog section.
Experimental Art at the End of the Dirt Road
by Sarah Ayers
Marcellus, Michigan, was founded in 1879, and is a rural community of about 1,000 residents located centrally between Detroit and Chicago. With a rich history as a hub for creativity during the late 19th and early 20th century as it hosted performers traveling the vaudeville circuit, it is currently an agricultural and industrial community. With over 50% of its storefronts vacant in 2020, Sarah Ayers purchased the former hardware store in September of the same year, founding the experimental art space Patch & Remington.
[1. Image Courtesy of Sarah Ayers]
Since its opening, Patch & Remington has reached over 200 students through its art classes and welcomed guests from as far away as Australia. Building on a foundation of community and accessibility, Patch & Remington hosts exhibitions that coincide with artists’ talks, classes, and outreach programs.
[2. Courtesy of Mike Han copy]
One of the most successful engagements was with Korean-American artist Mike Han. Opening on the 4th of July weekend, the exhibition, Gyopo, was an exploration of identity and what being American looks like. Advertising not only the artworks on view, but also hot dogs topped with traditional Korean chilli, guests arrived in droves to try the food but stayed for the conversation. Activating the space through non-traditional approaches has helped in reaching a diverse local audience, and works towards changing the narrative of art and geographical accessibility.
[3. courtesy of Sarah Ayers]
Our current exhibition is Lou Sheppard’s Exquisite Corpse. In collaboration with Centre for Art Tapes in Canada and the Canadian Council for the Arts, we are thrilled to host an international exhibition that once again explores identity, but this time, within the context of gender constructs. With the goal to advocate for diverse representation in rural spaces, Patch & Remington welcomes collaboration.
[4. Courtesy of Lou Sheppard]
Please feel free to reach out at www.patchandremington.com or directly to Sarah Ayers at contact@sayersart.com.
*Photo Captation: Sarah Ayers © Rosa Maria Zamarron
