November 14, 2017

Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley Give New Meaning to “Artists-in-Residence”

Your Turn by Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley is on view at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Photography by Jason Mandella.

Sharing reaches new heights in Your Turn, a site-specific installation on view through April 22 at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut. It’s the work of Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley, who build what Schweder calls “performance architecture” and then become the artists-in-residence. In this instance, they’ve cut a 23-foot-square partition out of architectural-grade plywood, attached orderly rows of steel rungs to each side, and fabricated six “amenities” that slide through to be used: lounge chair, dining table, desk, bed, kitchen, and composting toilet. From November 30 to December 2 and again from December 7 to 9, the men will be on-site, with Schweder living on one side of the partition and Shelley on the other.

Schweder in the installation’s lounge chair. Photography by Jason Mandella.
Shelley at the dining table. Photography by Jason Mandella.
Your Turn. Photography by Jason Mandella. 
Your Turn. Photography by George Brenner.
Your Turn. Photography by Jason Mandella.
Stability by Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley. Image courtesy of the artists.
ReActor by Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley. Photography by Richard Barnes.
ReActor. Photography by Dora Somosi.
ReActor kitchen. Photography by Richard Barnes.
ReActor concept drawing. Sketch courtesy of the artists.
In Orbit by Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley. Image courtesy of the artists.
Counterweight by Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley. Image courtesy of the artists.

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