Combination of the Two
An Exhibition by Ginny O’Brien & Michael Basinski

On view January 17–February, 23, 2019

Opening Reception Friday, January 18 | 5-9pm

Ginny O’Brien and Michael Basinski are married and take advantage of their close proximity to compose collaboratively using language as material, and materials and color as language.

They create work using markers, gouache, original photographs, snippets of cloth, and prepared materials. The practice involves exchanging the compositions literally at the table, passing them back and forth and thereby dissolving the notion of the single artist. The compositions pool and invite one to take an improvisational dip.

Basinski continues his life-long literary practices within the realm of the poem. O’Brien is a mixed media painter, arts educator, and a resident artist leading visual arts activities for pediatric outpatients in a hospital clinic setting. In 2017, O’Brien and Basinski published their collaborative works in a book titled Combinings with Irish publisher RedFox Press. This exhibition’s title comes from the first cut on Big Brother and the Holding Company’s 1968 album Cheap Thrills. As Janis Jopin sang, “Oh, oh – yeah!”