Elana Mann

Artist’s Statement

Every gesture, encounter and social act contains invisible performances related to gender, power and nationality. My artwork highlights and probes the theatricality of human interactions and the potential of exchange. In my art practice I explore the politicized spaces between people, whether those spaces be physical, virtual or cultural. My artistic production ranges from constructing performances, objects and videos to organizing international dialogues and exhibitions. In many of my projects I utilize varying strategies of collaboration — partnering with artists, composers and audiences — to mirror the relational content of the artwork.

In my most recent work, entitled “Exchange Rate: 2008,” I organized and participated in an international performance exchange in response to the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In all, 38 artists (half of which are based in Los Angeles) created, exchanged and interpreted performance direction with the aid of the project Web site exchangerate2008.com. These actions took place in 16 countries all over the globe, from the streets of Seoul, South Korea to the alleys of Tel Aviv, Israel. This series of performances mirrored and confronted the pageantry of the campaigns of both candidates and highlighted artists who are challenging the politics of today.

I am currently researching my next project, which juxtaposes the theories of Augosto Boal’s “Theater of the Oppressed” with a tourist attraction north of Mexico City that simulates illegal border crossings.

Website: elanamann.com

Biography

Select Solo Exhibitions

2007
The usefulness of forgetting, Gallery D300, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.

2006
Conversation Pieces, a collaboration with Adam Overton, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.
Elk Grave-Sight, Tyson Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, Eureka, Mo.

Select Group Exhibitions

2009
Performing New Economies, Fellows of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Soundscapes, Gallery 727, Los Angeles
Needle in a Haystack, Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, Los Angeles
Stay Bite: Modes of Operation, University of Texas, Dallas

2008
Completely neutral tree show, Gallery 1927, Los Angeles
___________,_________; A solo show, Sea and Space Explorations, Los Angeles
Just how does a patriot act: A response to US policy at home and abroad, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, Calif. (catalog)
The Audacity of Desperation, Sea and Space Explorations, Los Angeles
Stay Bite, Lime Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.
From A to B: A Field Guide to the Urban Commute, Fellows of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

2007
Deeesire, The Gatov Galleries, California State University, Long Beach, Calif.
The Girly Show, The Wignall Museum, Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (catalog)
The Collective Body, Galerie Califia, The Czech Republic
For Ever, 915 Mateo, Los Angeles
A not so simple case for torture, Gallery D300, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.
The Powder Room, Track 16, Los Angeles (catalog)
Abre-Alas, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2006
Mid-Residency Exhibition, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.
It was the blurst of times, Commerce Street Artist Warehouse, Houston
GLAMFA, The Gatov Galleries, California State University, Long Beach, Calif.

2005
Hello my name is:, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.
The door show, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.

2004
Did you wash your body today?, Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, Minn.

Select Performances and Screenings

2009
“Till there was you,” WILDNESS, Los Angeles

2008
Exchange Rate: 2008, Nov. 4, Remy’s On Temple, Los Angeles (catalog)
Conventions & Attitudes, The CUNY Graduate Center Art Gallery, New York
alt_cph, Alternative Art Fair, Koh I Noor Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark Come Out & Play; Supermasochist, Apex Art, New York
Maulwerker Performing Music, SITUATIONS: Art. Life. Transitions. Interpenetrations, Berlin
My footnote to David Askevold, Outpost for Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Publicity, A reinvention of Allan Kaprow’s performance, in partnership with the Allan Kaprow exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

2007
The Other Project, Valencia, Calif.
Drip Event, The Pawn Shop, Los Angeles

2006
The river is our parade, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Video Nightmare, Raid Projects, Los Angeles

2005
Sounding Out Festival, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.
The door show, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.

Select Awards/Grants/Residencies

2009
Kitty Chester Series of Curator’s Laboratory Projects, Fellows of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

2005
Willamette Week “Best Group show of 2005” for the TROCA: Brasil exhibit, Portland, Ore.

2004
Franconia Sculpture Park intern artist fellowship, Shafer, Minn.

2003
John T. Milliken Traveling Scholarship, St. Louis
Secor Sculpture Award, St. Louis
Crescent Hills Research Grant, Tyson Research Center, Eureka, Mo.

2002
University City Public Sculpture Commission, St. Louis

EDUCATION

2007, M.F.A.
California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.

2003, B.F.A.
Washington University in St. Louis