The Multiple Bodies project, produced by Bridge Video in partnership with Indiana University’s Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, is now live online and will premiere through the inaugural Bridge Film & Video Festival running October 27–28 at SITE/Less in Chicago, Illinois.
As described in the curatorial statement, “Multiple Bodies delves into the shifting and overlapping conceptions of the body within contexts of technological and social change.” The exhibition features works by eleven current and former students: Gerich "Drew" Buerger, Ethan Edwards, Sydney Foreman, Erin Gieselman, Lyndsey Gillespie, Wenqi Li, Emma O'Connor, Melody Reyes, Dominick Rivers, Max Senter, and Jacob Tate. Works were selected for their creative use of the video art medium, relationship to the theme, and for the unique perspectives they share. There was an open call for works during the Spring 2023 semester followed by several rounds of review and a competitive process resulting in 27% of those submitting being invited to participate.
Bridge Art Executive Director Michael Workman describes the collaboration by saying, “We are thrilled to partner with Indiana University’s Eskenazi School. Academic programs such as this one provide students real-life experience in arts and culture to advance the field. We are especially grateful to Megan Young, a member of our Movement Matters committee for dance and performance, under whose leadership this program has come to fruition.” Lyndsey Gillespie (MFA Digital Art ‘24) describes the project’s approach by saying, “It’s been refreshing. Embodiment is a beautiful motif to bring us back – both within ourselves, but also connecting with one another.” Co-curator Christine Bruening (Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University) further contextualizes the value of the collaboration by saying, “This project is a tremendous opportunity for our students to articulate how they position their identity in relation to technology and the body. It's thrilling that they have BRIDGE as a megaphone to share their ideas."
The Multiple Bodies collection is available online now by subscription via Bridge Video (www.bridge-chicago.org) and will be screened at SITE/less (1250 W. Augusta Blvd.) in Chicago on Saturday, October 28. Bloomington, Indiana residents can get a sneak preview of the collection during the Eskenazi School of Art’s Open Studios event on Friday, October 20.
About Bridge
Bridge Art is a registered Illinois 501 (c) 3 publishing and programming organization. In addition to its book publishing division, Bridge also publishes the weekly online Bridge magazine, and the annual Bridge Journal. It launched Bridge Video as a micro-streaming service in 2023 and selected works for inclusion through an open call and peer review process.
About Megan Young
Megan Young’s interdisciplinary practice considers what evades capture in a machine vision landscape. Her works have been featured in Hyperallergic, The Atlantic, and on NPR with credits including ISEA (Hong Kong), Art Souterrain (Montreal), Open Engagement (Chicago), SPACES (Cleveland) and the Ammerman Center for Arts & Technology (Connecticut College). Additional recognition includes a Knight Foundation technology grant, two OAC Individual Excellence awards, and a CEC ArtsLink residency in Armenia. Young holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art & Media from Columbia College Chicago; BFA in Dance from Ohio University. She has taught courses on interactive art, video art, installation and performance for Cleveland Institute of Art, Baldwin Wallace University, and Kent State University. She is currently Lecturer and Digital Art Area Head at Indiana University.
