Don't You Know There's a War Going On? May 30, 2008

Don’t You Know There’s A War Going On?
Featuring Erika Anderson in the Ticket Booth

Exhibition runs: May 28 – June 14, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, May 30, 6-9 PM
Gallery Hours: Wednesdays - Saturdays, 1-6 PM

Don’t You Know There’s A War Going On? is a video installation of a cat playing with, dismembering, and eating a bird, paired to a soundtrack of current BBC news radio. The actual event borders on the banal, but the footage is jolting. This piece explores the prosaic nature of violence, its prevalent and consistent presence in our lives, and our obligation, if any, to do something about it. The piece invokes questions of the responsibility of the viewer, and by extension, all of us who bear witness to violence on a daily basis.

ERIKA M. ANDERSON grew up in the low-lit dive bars and rotten graveyards of South Dakota. She has strummed, wailed and whimpered in the deconstructo-folk/noise bands Amps for Christ, Gowns, and Some Dark Holler. Anderson studied Media Arts at the Claremont Colleges in California. Her video work has been included on the Kill Rock Stars Video Fanzine III, 5RC artists the Mae Shi's Lock the Skull, Load the Gun, Miranda July's Joanie4Jackie's Video MixTape, and has shown at various festivals and symposiums. Anderson currently resides in West Oakland, California.

Official Website: http://www.thelab.org/events/14-events/194-dont-you-know-theres-a-war-going-on.html