"Like every nation participating in the Biennale, the United States is presenting a project it believes reflects artistic excellence. In our case, that excellence is expressed through Alma Allen's singular sculptural vocabulary-his transformation of geologic material into forms that remain open, exploratory and resist a single interpretation. We had artistic autonomy throughout this process."
"The premise of the question reverses the order of events. Every two years, the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) issues an open call for proposals for the US pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Each application consists of a commissioner, a curator and an artist; this year was no exception. The State Department's press release follows the selection; it doesn't determine the curatorial direction of the exhibition."
The selection of the US artist for the Venice Biennale's main pavilion faced unusual challenges, including an initial artist being dropped before announcement and delays due to government shutdown. Alma Allen, a Utah-born, Mexico-based artist, ultimately received the commission despite being less well-known than previous representatives. The State Department's selection process begins with open calls for proposals combining a commissioner, curator, and artist. Curator Jeffrey Uslip emphasizes that artistic autonomy guided the selection, with the State Department's press release following rather than determining curatorial direction. Allen's work features sculptural transformation of geologic materials into forms that remain exploratory and resist singular interpretation, reflecting the exhibition's title, Call Me the Breeze, which evokes lightness and openness.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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