FALL SOLOS Sneak Peek: Tiffany Re-Imagined

When you hear the word “reboot,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Movies? Books, maybe? A Saturday morning cartoon from the ’90s, even? Probably not stained glass windows, yet that’s what soloist Matthew Fishel plans to reboot as part of the 2013 FALL SOLOS exhibition. His installation, titled Relaunch, is a re-imagining of the Tiffany Gallery space as a triple-screened movie theater. Because we’re excited about this project, we wanted to give you a sneak peek of what’s to come on October 30.

The Tiffany Windows, now part of the Arlington County Public Art Collection, were originally designed for a local mausoleum, commemorating specific people buried inside. When the mausoleum was abandoned and finally torn down, the city salvaged three of its thirteen windows. Regular AAC visitors may be familiar with this history, but Fishel hopes to raise new questions and re-present the story for old-timers and newcomers alike.

Relaunch is “intended to provoke an examination of what may be lost and gained when a piece of the past is reconstructed and re-imagined,” he says. “I am interested in examining how collective imagination subjugates the immediate and real. Moving images are the common expression of that imagination, and they are both subject and medium in my work.”

The three Tiffany windows will be covered with projection surfaces so looping animations can be played on them. These continually playing animations will echo the design of the windows through color, shape, and light while re-launching their concept.  The historical windows will be both hidden and totally re-imagined – you’ll be persuaded to move past the simple pleasure of looking to exploring history through a new lens.

Because of the significant scale of this project Fishel has launched a Kickstarter to help defray the cost of the exhibition, which includes constructing three custom screens that will cover the windows. On his Kickstarter page you can read more about the concept behind Relaunch, see images from the work in progress, and donate to the fund.

While he writes that “Mostly at this point, I’m just excited to put the show together,” if you help him reach a total of $3,500 by October 10 you’ll have made a difference.

You can also see more of Fishel’s work on his personal website, where there are photographs of previous installations as well as animation clips you can watch.

If you want to learn more about Relaunch and FALL SOLOS, sign up for our newsletter! And here’s something to put on your calendar: We’re hosting an opening reception for FALL SOLOS on November 2 at 6 pm. As always, the reception is free and the public is welcome to enjoy food and wine in the re-imagined Tiffany Gallery or visit the open studios of AAC’s Resident Artists upstairs–it’s sure to be a good time!

-Written by Cody Vander Clute, AAC’s Curatorial & Exhibitions Intern