IN THE WINDOWS: NINA MARTINE ROBINSON

Neurotangle
by
Nina Martine Robinson

Nina Robinson is an emerging St. Paul based contemporary textile artist whose creative process starts wit a sewing machine.  Neurotangle, created in 2019, is an early exploration into utilizing repurposed clothing as a metaphor for neurodiversity.

In 2018, her 23 year old son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, specifically Aspergers Syndrome. Many individuals on the spectrum have self-soothing behaviors called "stims." These repetitive actions help to calm nerves and soothe them during high stress situations.  For her son, it the the deconstruction of his pants.

"I have spent hours mending belt loops, pockets and patching," the artist reports.

Ms. Robinson's recent installation work is a response to this repetitive behavior. The deconstruction of the clothing and the repetitive stitching create new forms of expression of Autism and neurodiversity as it applies to her experiences. The term neurodiversity was coined to describe variations in the human brain regarding mood, learning, attention, sociability and other mental functions in a non-pathological sense. 

"My goal in sharing these installation is about creating awareness of and being a conduit for interaction between neurotypical and neurodiverse people," Nina Martine Robinson.

 

INVENTORY METHODS, in the WINDOWS

INVENTORY METHODS, by Susan Hensel

QR code to take the survey

Gideon stands guard

Gideon wonders what I am up to

INVENTORY METHODS

Preparing to install 160 tubes

Preparing to install

INVENTORY METHODS : do the math.

Inventory Methods is an artwork about accretion and subtraction; accumulation and reduction.

It is a record of old pajamas discarded as useless and accumulated as rags.

It is a record of weights, each tube containing 4 ounces of waste materials: rags.

It is a declaration of the beauty that remains in the devalued, worn, discarded.

It is a record of an ongoing process of reduction and a questioning of the nature of what, and who, we devalue and discard.

Each tube represent 4 ounces of weight lost: a reduction in body size, a quest for health and a consideration of the pressures on bodies to conform to cultural standards. 

Gaining and losing weight is very public.  Unless one hides away from the eyes of others, the process is subject to value judgments, comment, encouragement, discouragement, vilification. That which is intensely private and personal, becomes a public spectacle, subject to comment.

With this artwork I want to direct the commenting process, developing community conversation at the intersection of numbers and beauty. I will use a QR code to bring people into an active commenting process.

When did curves become unacceptable?   When did fat cease to represent wealth and fertility?  When did advanced age become frail and disrespected?  When did age, weight, beauty and numbers begin to intersect with moral judgements?

As I lost weight, I wanted to mark the progress, but also name as beautiful that which was subtracted.  I accumulated art as I reduce my size.

There are 160 tubes.  Do the math.

Take a survey to add language to INVENTORY METHODS

Oh My! What an Opening!

Deb put on her best duds and a beautiful smile and welcomed the crush of people who came out to experience this singular work of art.

Within the "canning room," as we were calling it during the build, Deb chats with Orrie Rutchik of the Minneapolis Photo Center.  The room was full of people, dazzled and delighted by the glowing jars.  Deb's Husband, Andy McQuigg was far form the only person who had to touch the jars.  At one point in the evening I stood and watched people giggling like little children making the lighted jars dance.

Deb's Dad, painter Joe Miller, flew in from the west coast to assist with the completion of the work, and , of course, to be the proud Papa at the show.


The soaring video was the great unifier of the show...spanning distance and time, the relationship of self and other.

The twins, Rebecca and Debora, confer on a phone call with Rebecca's children home on Long Island.

I'm not me, she's over there

by Debora Miller with Rebecca Miller

Jan 11- Feb 22, 2013

The gallery is open Mondays 10-5 and on other days and evenings, by very generous appointment.

Numinous Space

 Andy McQuigg and Deb Miller are still hard at work installing the temporary ceiling which will establish the "stage" for the installation I'm not me, she's over there.


Huge cedar beams span the gallery space, establishing place, beginning to create the location for a numinous experience .


The exhibition opens Friday. January 11, 7-9pm


I'm not me, she's over there.
by Debora Miller, withRebecca Miller

January 11-February 22, 2013

Helpers make light work

Lots of help around bringing this show to fruition.  In these various photos people you see: Gideon, Roan, James, Karen (of Mother Earth Garden) and Deb.

It's a mystery!

On a lovely sunny, Sunday, work has begun in earnest! Andy has been spending the day in the rafters...or more precisely, making rafters. A room is taking form inside the room of the gallery.  The cedar rafters will become Deb's new bed frame.  You read it here!  It's a deal!

The show opens soon:

I'm not me, she's over there

opening reception Friday, January 11, 7-9pm