Art Installation Facilitates Face-to-Face Encounters at the Whoo Space!

Artist Carolyn Clayton presents WITHIN RANGE, an art installation and participatory experience at the Whoo Space in Northampton from May 2^nd through May 13^th.  An opening reception will be held on May 2^nd from 5pm to 8pm.  In addition a pre-closing celebration will take place on May 11^th from 5pm to 8pm during Arts Night Out. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, Inc. 
WITHIN RANGE is also sponsored by Yes Exactly Web Design.

Community members of Northampton and the greater Pioneer Valley are greatly encouraged to take part in this lighthearted and fun social experiment. Clayton presents handcrafted walkie-talkies, cast in hydrocal and hand painted, a varied edition of 100 objects.  There are 50 pairs, each a unique combination of color, shape and style, so that each piece has a twin, reflecting the two-way nature of walkie-talkies.  The walkie-talkies are all individually priced at $20. Upon purchasing a piece, one agrees to participate in a platonic matchmaking project. Over the twelve-day duration of the show each walkie-talkie owner will be scheduled to rendezvous at the gallery with the owner of the matching walkie-talkie.  At this point they may retrieve their purchases while participating in a face-to-face conversation with their partner over free coffee, tea and pastries.  To purchase a walkie-talkie in advance and secure a spot in the project please visit www.withinrange.net/purchase.  Walkie-talkies may also be purchased on site.

In a world powered by technology- the Internet, Facebook, smart phones, video chatting, and online dating, WITHIN RANGE is an opportunity to have a pure human encounter with another person regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, social status or romantic intent.  The cast walkie-talkie, although non-functional, will act as a memorable symbol of each encounter, adding a personal and symbolic feature to owning a work of art.

Clayton graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 and has since completed a residency at Vermont Studio Center in 2010.  She has exhibited her work in Easthampton, Pittsburgh and New York City. She currently lives in Northampton and maintains a studio in the Eastworks building in Easthampton MA.  Clayton is a also a C3 collective member.