U.S.-Kaohsiung Sister City Artists Participate in the 2011 Kaohsiung International Container Arts Festival

PR-1167E | Date: 12/07/2011

The American Institute in Taiwan is pleased to sponsor the 2011 Kaohsiung International Container Arts Festival, which will take place at the Pier 2 Art Center, No. 1, Dayong Rd., Yancheng District., Kaohsiung City from December 10, 2011 to January 31, 2012. The Opening Ceremony of the Festival will be held at Moonlight Theater of Pier 2 Art Center on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) has sponsored 5 teams of U.S. artists to create unique works of art representing the cities in which they live. As part of a special pavilion, these artists are highlighted among the array of international participants, exhibiting the diversity and excellence of U.S. contemporary art.

First held in 2001, the biennial Kaohsiung International Container Arts Festival has become the most significant and distinctive art event in southern Taiwan. This year's event includes 27 artworks by 12 teams and 15 individual artists from 5 countries. Five of the participating teams - Andrew Binkley (Honolulu), Shelley Roff (San Antonio), Yiren Hou and James Gallagher (Tulsa), Xavier Cortada (Miami) and Richard Humann (New York City) - are from the United States and 4 of them are from the sister cities of Kaohsiung.

Through the artist-in-residence program, the artists will stay in Taiwan for three weeks to create container installations around the theme "Artbitat". They will also participate in events such as Meet the Artists Day, a Container Forum and a participatory Eco-Art Installations with local community and students. Other festival exhibits include miniature model container exhibition, the Mobile Museum of Taiwan Literature, and Photos Gallery on Facebook Fan Page. For more information about the festival and participatory events, please visit KMFA official website http://2011container.kmfa.gov.tw and Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/2011container.

Participating artists and projects:

• Andrew Binkley, Honululu, Hawaii
  Drifting Ground
• Shelley Elaine Roff, San Antonio, Texas
  Home is Everyone's Primeval Little Universe
• Yiren Hou and James Gallagher, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  If the Only Tool You Have is a Hammer
• Xavier Cortada, Miami, Florida
  Eco-Art Projects "BLOOM" and "Longitude Installation"
• Richard Humann, New York City, New York
  Silent for Me