Topic: ART NEWS
Ai WeiWei @ Large At Alcatraz
By Tammy Duffy
Ai Weiwei, the prominent Chinese activist-artist, who is forbidden from leaving China, has been commissioned by the For-Site Foundation to create an exhibition. This exhibition entitled, At Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz," touches on the history of imprisonment on the island, and runs through April 26, 2015. The installations are only accessible to Alcatraz ticket holders.
The FOR-SITE Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei brings his works to Alcatraz Island until spring of 2015. Ai is internationally celebrated for his extraordinary ability to communicate complex political and creative concepts in his sculptures and installations. His works raise urgent questions about human rights and the freedom of expression. His art and ideas find a compelling new context in this exhibition of works created specifically for Alcatraz--a 19th-century military fortress, a notorious federal penitentiary, a site of Native American heritage and protest, and now one of America's most visited national parks.
Revealing unexpected perspectives on Alcatraz and its layered legacy, @Large prompts visitors to consider the implications of incarceration and the possibilities of art as an act of conscience. For Ai, these are not just artist themes; they are fact of life. A vocal critic of the Chinese government, Ai was secretly detained by Chinese authorities for 81 days in 2011 on charges of tax evasion, and is still not permitted to leave China. @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz reveals unexpected perspectives on Alcatraz and its layered legacy and prompts visitors to consider the implications of incarceration and the possibilities as art as an act of conscience. @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz launches a dialogue that incorporates these themes of communication, individual responsibility, and freedom on a global level, exploring prisons, and prisoners around the world.
A limited number of Early Bird Exhibition tickets are available on the 8:45 am departure. Please note, this ticket is not for a guided tour. This ticket includes the round-trip ferry service from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, a greeting and orientation on the Island, a commemorative @Large gift, regular Alcatraz admission and the Cellhouse Audio Tour:
A limited number of Special Guided Tours of the exhibit are available on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays on the 8:45 am departure. This ticket includes the round-trip ferry service from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, a special orientation on the island, a docent led tour of the @Large exhibit, a copy of the @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz full-color exhibit catalogue, a commemorative @Large gift, regular Alcatraz admission and the Cellhouse Audio Tour:
To purchase regular admission tickets to Alcatraz (which includes full access to the @Large exhibit), please visit Alcatraz Cruises at
http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/buy-tickets.aspx
