Nick Cave, best known in the arts community for his figurative sculptural work known as Soundsuits, is scheduled to appear at 5:10 p.m. Thursday at the Michigan Theater in the program “Strategies of Performa — Scene and Unseen,” part of the School of Art & Design’s Penny W. Stamps Speaker Series.
Cave’s figurative Soundsuits sculptures are constructed of an array of found materials. Those items include beaded/sequin garments, wood, metal, hair, plastic, clay and dollies. The suits are designed to rattle and resonate in concert with the movement of the wearer.
The artist’s works make reference to African and Global tribal ceremonial dress, urban ritual attire, religious vestments, the Ku Klux Klan, alien creatures, carnival costumes and Mardi Gras Indian frocks. Cave, who discusses his work as Performa, seeks to explore and reiterates cultural, ritualistic and ceremonial concepts. He talks of focusing on strategies that inspire the work, and utilizing tools that mobilize, activate, instigate, and escalate an examination of space and community.
The free speaker series was established with the support of alumna Penny Stamps. It brings respected emerging and established artists-designers from a broad spectrum of media to U-M to conduct a public lecture and engage with students, faculty, and the larger university and Ann Arbor communities. Michigan Radio also provides program support.
Cave’s appearance also is presented with support from the U-M Museum of Art and the Chelsea River Gallery.
