The Cloud Piece: Joanie Turbek and Matt Ruby

2013 MARCHThe Cloud PieceMarch 1 - 31, 2013[portfolio_slideshow id=673 height=500]The Cloud Piece is a 9' x 9' canopy built from Christmas lights that have been clustered so that they create a singular mass. The piece builds electricity until it's charge is released, reverberating through the canopy in an uncontrolled manner. This outpouring of energy activates sections of lights as it dissipates. The sounds of the electromechanical switches flipping are miked and amplified, creating an audible manifestation of the energy's movement through the piece. The tangle of lights draws a visual connection to images of clouds in our atmosphere, electrical impulses in our brain and modern technological systems. The viewer is encouraged to lay under the piece to appreciate the outpouring of energy, both violent and beautiful. About the Artists Joanie Turbek and Matt Ruby are a married couple who collaborate to create works of art. When making together their work usually utilizes non-nature in an attempt to create a simulation of a natural system. For instance, during their tenure at the Recycled Artist in Residence (RAIR) program with Revolution Recovery in North Philadelphia the pair shaped “icebergs” from dumped Styrofoam that moved gracefully through the piles of trash at the junkyard (see that performance here: http://www.matt-ruby.com/icebergs-2012). Both artists currently reside in New York City.