David D’Ostilio: The Chopping Block

March 3 – March 27, 2013
Opening reception : March 2, 7-9pm
Performances: March 2 (7-9pm); March 9, March 16, March 23 (2-6pm)
Closing party: March 28, 7-9pm

David D’Ostilio presents “The Chopping Block,” an installation with a performative element, that will occur every Saturday March 2 through March 27.

D’Ostilio will demonstrate the skills and rites that his grandfather, a carpenter, teacher, and artist, taught him. “The Chopping Block” is both an homage to his own past and a critique of perceived notions about gender roles. The artist will play the role of lumberjack, donning stereotypical clothing and sawing a 10-foot long log into smaller pieces with his grandfather’s saw. He will chop the stumps into firewood with an antique, hand-made axe.

During gallery hours outside of the performances, the artifacts of his actions will be displayed along with his tools and documentation of the event. The exhibition will challenge notions of beauty and identity, questioning where we came from and where we are going. D’Ostilio believes that “the presentation of various mediums in conjunction with each other encourages us to think not only about our perceptions of work versus art, but also about our own senses, resources, energy, and time.”

D’Ostilio works in a variety of mediums including installation, printmaking, painting, and drawing. He has curated for the Exquisite Corpse Festival in New York in both 2011 and 2013. His paintings and drawings have also been twice featured in the Phillips de Pury staff show. D’Ostilio has performed at multiple venues, including the Brick and Bric-a-Brac theaters in Brooklyn. Additionally, his works are a part of the Moravian College permanent collection in Bethlehem, PA.

The Chopping Block | Installation/ Performance | Press | Press Release