Video Artist, Vanessa Renwick, Opens Exhibit

Collaborative installation Rising Up" opens at the TOLLBOOTH Gallery in Tacoma; Video by Vanessa Renwick, sound by Donovan Skirvin, and paper works by the Celebrate Peoples History Project

Tacoma, WA (PRWEB) June 5, 2004 --Rising Up" a collaborative installation featuring the work of Portland-based artist Vanessa Renwick is the newest TOLLBOOTH exhibit and opens on June 3, 2004 and will run until July 21, 2004. "Rising Up" also features sound by Donovan Skirvin and political posters by the Celebrate Peoples History Project.

Vanessa Renwicks work reflects an interest in place, urban transformation, and relationships between bodies and landscapes. Working in experimental and documentary forms, she produces films, videos and installations that explore the possibility of poetry in contemporary society, while sometimes providing a vicious, satirical commentary on that society. Vanessa Renwick will be traveling thru the northwest with her partner Bill Daniel in September bringing you the Sunset Scavenger Film Tour.

Eric Allen Hatch writes in Baltimores City Paper that Vanessa Renwicks work ...reflects a punk-rock feminism...grafted with youthful spunk and uproarious humor." Renwick also serves as the Director of Affairs for the Oregon Department of Kick Ass (www.odoka.org).

The Celebrate People's History poster series is an on-going project producing media that centers on important moments in "people's history" focusing on the struggle for social justice and freedom. The projects posters commemorate important acts of resistance, individuals who fought for justice and truth, and observe socio-political victories. In the past 5 years dozens of posters have been produced on a variety of subjects, and have appeared wheat pasted on the street, put up in peoples home and storefront windows, and used in classrooms. These posters have been placed publicly in an attempt to help generate a discussion about our radical past and its influence on the future. This project is also being used to create a loose network of artists interested in creating radical public art and showcasing the work of unknown artists that want to create art that is functional and carries a social message.

The Tollbooth is the 'Worlds Smallest Gallery dedicated exclusively to video and paper based fine arts and is a project of Artrod. This is a brilliant way to deliver street level public art to the City and provide more public exposure to experimental media" says the City of Tacomas Public Art Administrator Amy McBride This programming is truly unique and will garner exposure on a national level." The work of eight different artists or artist teams will be featured at the Tollbooths unique outdoor public installation space in 2004. Exhibits are planned at the Tollbooth well into 2005 and include work from recent contributors to both the Whitney and Havana Biennials.

Artrod is a 501(c)(3) non profit arts organization established in 1958. Artrods mission is to facilitate art exhibition in nontraditional public arenas. Artrod has grown out of, and in response to, a specific need to bring contemporary art forms out of a solid, conventional museum setting and directly into the communitys path. In addition to the Tollbooth, Artrod produces the quarterly magazine, Toby Room, and the experimental film series, Dont Bite the Pavement. The Tollbooth is generously funded in part by the Tacoma Arts Commission, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, the Grand Cinema, and Stadium Video.

Dont miss Rising Up" an experimental video, sound, and paper art experience at the Tollbooth Gallery running June 3, 2004 thru July 21, 2004. The Tollbooth is located just north of the intersection at 11th and Broadway in downtown Tacoma, Washington. The Tollbooth is open to the public 24 hours a day and admission is free. Artrod (253) 572-0995 tollbooth@artrod.org

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For more information or to set up interviews with artist Vanessa Renwick, contact Michael Lent at (253) 572-0995

Publication Quality Photographs available for use at http://www.artrod.org/press