RELEASED: Sept. 29, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Artist Zoé Strecker, who will be visiting instructor of art for CentreTerm in January, has an exhibit currently on display at Lexington Arts Center, 141 East Main Street, in downtown Lexington.

Strecker's installation, part of LexArts' Windows Project, is titled "Quotidian Blues® Considers Global Branding: What do we have to offer?" In it, Strecker presents a series of mannequins displaying a line of women's clothing from a wide range of cultures. The imaginary brand name, "Quotidian Blues" (QB), its logo, and clothing lines are conceptual tools for the artist's ongoing ethical, economic and social.

Strecker constructed the garments from fabric (cotton, silk satin, and chiffon) that she designed and digitally printed to look as if silvery, coin-like versions of the Quotidian Blues logo are being poured onto each figure. 

In addition to the garments and mannequins, the installation features a neon sign in the shape of the QB logo, and placards by each mannequin that highlight the garment's region of origin on a world map.

Says Strecker, in her artist's statement, "Several garment designs were derived strictly from documentary photos like, the Afghan-style Burqa and the Arctic parka.  Others are highly standardized, like the ubiquitous women's business suit, the uniform of Western Industrialized cultures (Zone 1, in the nomenclature of the installation). The mannequins are hand-made by the artist from packing tape."

Visitors are invited to log their reactions in a blank book on a table with a "zone map" posted above. Of special interest to the artist is viewers' responses to the question in the installation's subtitle, What do we have to offer?

The installation is on exhibit through Sunday, Nov. 13.

Strecker's past work includes large-scale public sculptures located at sites across the United States. She is a past recipient of the Kentucky Foundation for Women Artist Enrichment Grant, and the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council. 

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For CentreTerm, Strecker will be teaching a Freshmen Studies course called "The Open Studio: Investigating Contemporary Art Practices."  In addition to a critical study of current artists working in new media, her class will create a portable sonic artwork and install the piece at various sites around campus and town during the term

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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