Washer/Dryer Project: An Unlikely Art Gallery
Art is at the core of what it means to be human. It is a way to portray ideas and emotions with anything, and that is something that should be admired. Brock Ailes is an artist from Columbus, Ohio that recently showcased his work here in Utah. He creates sculptures from everyday items, like aluminum cans and over-the-counter medicine containers, and stacks or seals them in plastic with other fluids. His work represents the effects of the socioeconomic class system and the lack of empathy and respect for the ‘lower class.’ This is illustrated by the use of over-the-counter medications, to represent rotting. It portrays the way that the lower ‘classes’ are seemingly left to rot by the rest of society due to a lack of accessible medicine. OTC meds are something the lower socioeconomic levels have an extreme reliance upon because the cost of any type of other medical assistance is extremely expensive, forcing people within this classification to rely solely on cheap, ineffective alternatives. His art starts a serious conversation on the effects of the growing gap between the wealthiest and the poorest in our nation, as well as the materials we give to each of these groups. He has an extremely unique way of showcasing his ideas within his sculptures. However, another unique aspect of this is where his art is displayed—a laundry room.
The idea for holding these galleries in the laundry room came from artist, web designer and father, Mitchell Barton. Barton, a BYU graduate, had previously “...started some small, kind of, gallery spaces in Provo, and... it was just really fun.” Afterward, he had intended to start a new space, but life seemed to get in the way, as it does, with a full-time job and a baby coming into the picture. However, according to him, inspiration hit when he “...ended up moving into this new apartment and the apartment had this crazy, crappy laundry room and it smells like really bad in there… and I just thought it would be interesting to try to do shows in there.”
Unlike most people, he saw this room as an opportunity to showcase young artists and created the Washer-Dryer Project, where he displayed their work in his own apartment laundry room. The artists that feature their work there come from all over the world. Barton says “... some of [the artists] are just my friends... so people I know that I like their work and I want to give them opportunities to show their work, and then also I try to mix that with people… that I don’t know and I want to learn more about. A lot of the artists are just people that I’ve found through Instagram or that reached out to me…” Barton tries to hold a show every month and has done about ten shows so far.
His plans for the future are currently up in the air as it’s unlikely that he will stay in that apartment building forever, so he is contemplating ways to keep his gallery open. He says that “… maybe I’ll just do it in my next laundry room …or…some sort of nomadic thing where people use their laundry rooms… where… I invite an artist to invite another artist to a show in their laundry room and then we have shows in laundry rooms like all over the place.”
Spaces like Barton's laundry room are becoming more and more needed in the world. As appreciation for the arts is decreasing because the arts generally aren't lucrative, places for young or new artists to show their work are increasingly critical. Barton himself says, “I think it’s important to create these spaces, especially here in Utah. There are so many great artists … and I don’t think there’s a whole lot of opportunities.” These spaces allow people to pursue their talents in the arts, even with jobs outside of their art. Barton is an amazing example of this, as his primary job is web design while creating art in his free time. This, obviously, is a huge factor as to why he wants to create more opportunities for artists, as they are disadvantaged in a world that values money more than art. To reach this goal, Barton is in the process of making a book in which he will compile the documentation from the different art shows as well as interviews from the artists.
Exhibits like Barton’s not only create opportunities for young artists but also create areas that bring people forward to experience art. Art brings people together, and the creation of more of these unique gallery spaces attract people and bring awareness to artists and their ideas. This is especially important because of the comparatively small number of ways we have to appreciate art in Utah. Places like Barton’s laundry room are accessible ways for people to share ideas and start discussions on important topics without creating the elitist atmosphere that common high-end galleries make. This is especially important because it allows people to view art in a relatively cheap way, which makes it a fun pastime rather than a high-end affair. By allowing people to meet and gather to see art, whether in person or digitally, bonds and communities are created. As Barton puts it, “... art is… a really social thing… I like to go look at art and then talk about it with other people, and a lot of the times, experiencing the art with other people or talking about it with other people is… the most satisfying thing.” The creation of these communities like he describes are essential to create a flow of ideas and start a discussion on the subject and beauty of the art. The ‘togetherness’ that art creates truly is powerful. The Washer-Dryer Project is a great example of this, which is why Barton says, “I think more people… should do things like this.”
