See the exhibition at SPIN Gallery August 14 – September 26, 2020 –a three-year performative journey exploring ancestral legacy, gun violence, fake news and criminal celebrity stardom.
We’re thrilled to tell you about Colette Copeland’s upcoming exhibition. Colette is a talented artist and one of our content partners. Content partners help Voyage is so many ways from spreading the word about the work we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on new content. We encourage you to learn more about the exhibition below.
DALLAS, TEXAS, July 15, 2020–In her most ambitious work to date, Copeland will debut her most recent work researching her ancestor– the notorious outlaw Jesse James. The exhibition includes a 22-channel video installation, framed solar plate etchings, as well as an original musical score composed by Dallin B. Peacock and an original audio guide featuring acclaimed Dallas actor Ike Duncan.
Copeland’s fascination with Jesse James stems from childhood family lore—tales of her blood kinship to the notorious outlaw Jesse James. Her great great grandmother’s 2nd husband Billy James was Jesse and Frank James’ first cousin.
Over the past three summers, the artist traveled to the sites where Jesse James lived and outlawed, filming and leaving her DNA in the form of a lock of hair at each site. The performative journey/quest spanned 9 states and over 4000 miles.
The project addresses the cultural mythos of criminals, specifically how the icon Jesse James was/is presented and commodified in books, films, comics and historical sites, as well as the current and problematic fascination with DNA networks such as ancestryDNA.com.
“In the wake of the continued horrific gun violence and murders of black bodies by law enforcement, the work takes on a new context. Visitors to the gallery will view the videos through gun scopes, asking them to question and confront their own perceptions about guns and gun control.” –Colette Copeland
The work will be in conjunction with the UTD faculty exhibition Naked with Fur.
SPIN Gallery
3020 Stewart Drive
Richardson, Texas. 75080
972-883-2111
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday by appointment
Copeland will be hosting small groups for informal discussions, tours and talks. To schedule or for more information, please contact her via email or text.
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December 16, 2020 at 4:14 am
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