Long shot art question about an installation in SF in the early 2000s

March 14, 2022 3:12 PM

I realize this is a long shot question, but I went to an exhibit in the early 2000s in San Francisco and was struck by a piece of art. The artist had created a young woman's desk with journals and notes and all the detritus of our lives. It became slowly clear as you interacted with the desk that something bad had happened to her and she had (I think) passed away. I'd love help finding out more about it or the artist if possible!

This would have been in San Francisco before 2007, likely at a larger exhibit I think in the Mission. I have very vague memories of the rest of the pieces there and the space, but this stuck out to me and it's something I've kept thinking about ever since I saw it. I believe but am not certain that the young lady was fictional, and that she committed suicide in the world the desk created. I don't believe it was glued down, I think my memory suggests you could take objects out and flip through the various notes and journals.

I wish I remembered more, but some googling hasn't turned up anything that looks like I'd expect. Maybe there are terms that are obvious to people more connected to the art world so would appreciate even guidance there.

I understand this is a needle in the haystack type of question, it could be quite obscure or a huge deal and I wouldn't necessarily know. Any help tracking down more info about the piece though would be super helpful!

posted by Carillon to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Southern Exposure (SOEX) has an online archive of their programming going back to the late 80s - you might find something in there? They were the first place to come to my mind thinking about galleries in the Mission that would have hosted installation pieces like you describe.
posted by niicholas at 7:54 PM on March 14, 2022

I think I ran across the journals from that exhibit at the Prelinger Library around 2010. If it's the same one I'm thinking of, it was part of a series of five or six narrative 'episodes' of an alternate-reality game made by the Jejune Institute, a collaborative duo whose names I don't remember, but who you can dig up more about pretty easily, I'm sure.

There's a 2013 film called The Institute about the overarching premise of the ARG, but it's very much made for an audience who's already in on the 'joke' or overarching story.
posted by knucklebones at 10:52 PM on March 14, 2022

I asked a similar question 3 years ago trying to find an artist I stayed with in 1990, some of his work at the time was what I think is called assemblage, which sounds similar to the type you're seeking. This was at Developing Environments, 540 Alabama St. which currently has 22 artists and has been running since the 80's.

The artist had a page with mission artists, which is a great quick way to view many Mission area artists' styles.

Can you remember if the journals and objects were 'real' or if they were made of foam rubber / polystyrene / papier-mâché etc, and carefully painted? as that's an approach of several artists and it would help if we could include or exclude such styles.
posted by unearthed at 1:16 AM on March 15, 2022

Response by poster: Thanks for all the help so far, nothing yet has jumped off the page as it, but some really good leads. unearthed great questions, I remember them being 'real' as in things that would have been found on a normal desk and not remarked upon, not facsimiles. That said in interrogating my own memory I'm not certain if that's because the impact the piece had on me made them real, or if they were that way. I believe 'real' though.
posted by Carillon at 1:26 PM on March 15, 2022 [2 favorites]