At War with Peace 2006
“Fratricide” 2006
“Breathe” 2005
“Lovers” 1992
Detail from “Lovers”
“Patient Zero” 1993
“Patient Zero” detail
“Fetish” 1993
“Jefferson Airplane”
1969
Detail
1_2006
Through a warren of chop shops, rag traders and junk yards, down a potholed ribbon of asphalt, in an abandoned, vacant lot in Little Haiti where three dead-end streets converge, artist Skip Van Cel has installed Maze, a 9 foot high, barbed wire topped chain link fence that cuts 66.6' feet diagonally across the desolate landscape. Maze, on its surface is Van Cel's critique on America's unresolved conflict with immigration.The unfriendly nature of the location, the ambient white noise from traffic whooshing along I-95 a few blocks away and the convoluted path one must take to reach Maze all work in concert to create an environment that speaks on many levels. The Maze Van Cel refers to is in actuality the city’s entire street grid, which one must navigate, to view the work. The location, a most unlikely place for art, seeks to challenge the rarified, safe environment of the white-cubed gallery as exhibition space. In Van Cel’s Maze, the entire city is the exhibition space. Galleries often times display dangerous items within their confines, which makes it safe to observe. Here, the danger is the gallery and the danger is meant to be felt, not observed. With this Van Cel again addresses the immigrant issue. Many immigrants seeking a better life end up in areas just like this and make journeys much more dangerous than that required to view Van Cel’s Maze. Click on the above photo to see more, including a traveler’s advisory.
“Sigh”
To See Video Click On Image.
A Sampling of Works From 1988-2007
Recent Works 2007
american dream/american nightmare
american dream/american nightmare, explores through audio, video, photography and artifact (the poodle), the rise and destruction of all we work toward. Through a slow motion--excruciating if you will--visual and aural bonanza american dream/american nightmare walks the viewer though an experience of creative-destruction (a financial term). By presenting an unvarnished view of the present history, we prevent future historians from polishing the past to suit their personal aim. american dream/american nightmare documents evidence of lives lived. Cherished objects that were once considered precious have outlived their usefulness and are trashed in a society that believes disposability cleanses it of responsibility.
Skip Van Cel, May 2007
Maze 66.6’ X 9’ X 3” June 2007
SUSPECTED HOMOSEXUAL
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