Bird Watching
Kathy Marmor

April 29- May 24, 2008

Opening Reception: Thursday May 1, 6pm-8pm

In Bird Watching the artist makes the science of remote sensing tangible through her ingenious DIY approach to sophisticated technology. Kathy Marmor’s “homebrewed” remote sensing satellites challenge us to rethink the meaning of surveillance, by turning each viewer/participant into a human antenna. By engaging our participation, she suggests our complicity in creating a culture of surveillance and situates us among the amateur satellite spotters and ham radio operators who eagerly await each satellite’s passing. Bird Watching ties the local to the global by displaying the visitor’s path through the gallery alongside actual satellites being tracked in real time. Although the “birds” are playful in form, their content is serious: for they at once can be activated to “sing” and to spy. This realization gives us pause and provides an opportunity to reflect upon the political implications of knowledge and control in today’s society.

View the full Press Release here.