-The project is called „Cavity Search”. In the U. S. it has two meanings. The first one connected with dentistry and a sweet tooth, this sort of things, the other is more like a probing that is uninvited. Usually a police or correction officer does it. It is like making sure if you you are hiding something in esse. You are getting all the information what they said. This project is based my desire, my love of sugar, and being vulnerable. I am also asking people to be me a little bit. They have to be a part of it, as well. They have to search themselves. I asked them to fill a questionnaire out. I am also asking them to wear a specific garment when they eneter the room. They agreed to eat everything. They agreed to a lot of things. I am hoping that by vulnerability we might be given a challenge. I see it more as a political project, but it is hidden to sugar. So, we are a group not only beacause that guy supposed us to do that, but really asking themselves the questions like this: Should I do it even if I do not feel comfortable doing it? Going into your body with sugar and beverages I am intruding into their lives. I am wondering if I reach people’s limits-explaines Gabe Flores, the autor of the project “Cavity Search” in which I had the pleasure to take part in „Kronika” Contemporary Art Center in Bytom.
My second name is sugar joked Gabe standing before the door to our dining room. -Ten versions of dessert courses wait for you-from savory to sweet-he explaines the details. But as he empasized in his own version of savory and sweet.
He explained us where the front of our garment is-that was there where the buttons were. He had also six pins if a given shirt was too big. The changing room was right behind us. Standing before the closed door to the dining room he asked us to choose a small sheet of paper with the number. The numbers were on the plate he had in his hand. Each one indicated the place at the table where a given person should sit. -If you choose your number, and you feel bad you can negotiate with the others telling them why you feel like that-told us Gabe Flores explaining the rules. Having chosen the number at random we could enter the room. Gabe served us ten sweet dessert courses, one by one. Even Portugal wine was sweet. Only vodka was not. Besides the first course, underneath the plates there were messages from Gabe. Depending on the chair the message did change. To give you a short briefing the desserts were really sweet, so the light did. It was pink. „Cavity Search” explores themes of pleasure, free-will, endurance, and for me PC. The medium to measure it was used high IG food. Well, the project is really sweet!
Gabe Flores will be replicating a version of this social engagement February 2013 @ Deep Field in Portland, OR. Good luck, Gabe! The contemporary art projects look more edible or not then before? What is your opinion? I would also like to take part with pleasure in projects connected with desire food. At least, once a week. Of course, as a special guest, not the artist.
Helpful Hand
-Mostly, I’ve been some kind of support for transportation. A little bit of mixing, and just kind of following directions in preparation the dishes. Nothing conceptual. Last night at about 11 p.m. o’clock we needed to find a 24-hour shop to do a little grocery shopping and we found a Tesco on our way-told us Nicholas Reibel just before the dinner has started.
He also helped as an interpretor as he knows some Polish vocabulary connected with cooking and took part in in a project as one of the guests invited to a dinner made up of 10 dessert courses going from savory to sweet with paired beverages. I wondered if he felt like an artist. –If need to make money I would work on education, if I want to do what I chose it is just art-he added smiling.
Nicholas Reibel was born in Aberdeen, Wahington and moved here about seven years’ ago. Now he is living in Gliwice. –It is my temporary home. I have been between Poland, U.S., and Austria for last five years-explained Reibel, a friend of Gabe Flores.
Maya M. Kowalczyk
Gabe Flores’ works often deal with his reflections on identity-based ideologies and personal narrative. His current and near future work explores displacement as well as social/cultural navigation and he works in whatever medium he feels will best help him exemplify his pursuit. Flores received a BS in Sociology, Political Science, and History with a minor in Psychology from Portland State University. Gabe Flores is a Director and Curator of Place and Settlement.