Critical Writing Index

Ardent Spaces, Formidable Environments

by Patricia R. Zimmerman

Fierce: Women's Hot Blooded Film/Video, Mar. 2010, pp. 40-47

Hamilton: McMaster Museum of Art, 2010

Patricia Zimmerman writes an artful review of Fierce: Women's Hot Blooded Film/Video, featuring Dana Claxton, Maureen Bradley, Allyson Mitchell, and b.h.Yael. Zimmerman identifies a commonality binding the artists work in this cohesive exhibition, extending beyond gender. Coming from the legacy of feminist media practices, yet moving beyond identity politics in to media work that is more relational, the exhibition successfully creates flexible environments across genres. Common threads running through the exhibition are 'poly phonics" (music), topics of micro-territories (queer identity, childhood memory, Israel/Palestine conflict), and "ardent space" (converting a linear forward drive of the temporal in to an open horizontal space). "In Fierce, media work blends discourses, practices, and spectators, enfolding the polarizations, oppositions, and contradictions of earlier feminist works".

ITEM 2010.008 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

HopeDana Claxton

Buffalo Bone ChinaDana Claxton

Birthday Suit Management: a 21C homage to Lisa SteeleMaureen Bradley

Melty KittyAllyson Mitchell

precious little tiny loveAllyson Mitchell

I want to know whyDana Claxton

Anwolek Regatta CityDana Claxton

My Life in 5 MinutesAllyson Mitchell

What I rememberMaureen Bradley

StrandedMaureen Bradley

a hot sandfilled windb.h. Yael

(of)fencesb.h. Yael

trading the futureb.h. Yael