2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Design: Kevin Hubbard. Ass't: Skyler Punnett.
MERKINtile was a five-week exhibition, performance, and temporary retail store specializing in the merchandising of ‘designer’ merkins. It drew attention to the political bodies that inhabit public & private spaces by transforming the gallery into a spurious lingerie boutique. Originating in the 15th century, merkins were pubic wigs worn by prostitutes to cover disease sores and by women who shaved their pubic hair to combat lice. Merkins produced to size and mounting restrictions by local and international artists were displayed for sale for the duration of the exhibition. The MERKINtile exhibition provided the public with an opportunity to engage in discourse around gentrification, commodity, self-identity, and addressed the changing environment of Vancouver’s Chinatown and Downtown Eastside. The exhibition featured work by artists, a speaker series, and a publication.
2011. Poster sent to news outlets and wheat-pasted around the city advertising the 'opening-soon' storefront. Design: Kevin Hubbard. Ass't: Skyler Punnett.
As an act of parafiction , MERKINtile is billed as an actual commercial endeavour through the counterfeit press-releases, print-ads, and posters sent to various media outlets. Furthermore, from the outside of the building, there is no indication that the business is a hoax.
2011. Logo design: Kevin Hubbard.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case. Exterior & Interior Design: Kevin Hubbard.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
Artist works, L-R, top to bottom: Adrienne Rempel. ‘Daily Adore’; Erica Lapadat-Janzen. ‘Luxury Merkin’; Magali Hébert-Huot. ‘Vanilla’; Lydia Fu. ‘Quutchi’; Andrew Hogg. ‘A Bit Inside-Out Glove’; Monique Motut-Firth. ‘Barbie, The Girl Who Has (Almost) Everything’; Erdem Tasdelen. ‘Drag’; Magali Hébert-Huot. ‘Carole Hébert’; Adam Gandy. ‘Untitled.’
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
Artist works, L-R, top to bottom: Jasmine Reimer. ‘Nesting’; Anson Aguirre Firth. ‘Lice Free’; Laura Hatfield. ‘Acid Free Merkin’; Magali Hébert-Huot. ‘Holy Mother’; Lancia Lefebvre. ‘Nice Pussy Twat, Waxed’; Bonnie Mckibbin. ‘Cast of the Artist’; Jen Aitken. ‘Untitled’; Christian Pelech. ‘Untitled’; Magali Hébert-Huot. ‘Au Nom du Père, de La Mère du Fils et du Saint-Espirit’; Cayley Malo. ‘Short Circuit.’
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
Artist works, L-R, top to bottom: Cayley Malo. ‘Electra’; Hailey Gooch. ‘Untitled’; Christian Pelech. ‘Untitled’; Mr. & Mrs. Keith Murray. ‘Mrs. Merki Gets Her HEART-ON!; Jasmine Reimer. ‘Nesting 2’; Monique Motut-Firth. ‘Raggedy Ann & Andy (Ann)’; ‘Untitled’; Magali Hébert-Huot. ‘Au Nom du Père, de La Mère du Fils et du Saint-Espirit’; Sara French. ‘BFF’; Neil Chung. ‘All Purpose Patch.’
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case.
Artist works, L-R, top to bottom: Magali Hébert-Huot. ‘Untitled’; Jennifer Norquist. ‘In Bloom’; Deneige Nadeau. Monique Motut-Firth. ‘Raggedy Ann & Andy (Andy)’; Sara French. ‘When in Love, I Separate Someone From Everyone, 2011’; Lydia Fu. ‘CootChink’; Anonymous. ‘Anonymous/Unnamed DTES Pussy’ / Not pictured: Lauren Everall. ‘Fresh Dentata’ (removed because of deterioration); Matias Armendaris. ‘Peso Neto’; Neil Chung. ‘Materials for a Merkin.’
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Photograph: Graham Case. Design: Kevin Hubbard.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Kevin Hubbard.
2011. Artist/Curator. 221A Artist Run Centre. Design: Kevin Hubbard.