30 - Wednesday, February 19, 1992 — vy Shore News wscxme NOY Words and things ‘Objects of a different kind of labor’ STANDARD STOPPAGES at Cathedral Place, 925 W.Georgia, 12th Floor. Feb 1-22. Tues-Sat: 1-5, here are probably dozens of large, empty rooms, va- cant floors, and unused buildings across the city. It takes only a little inge- nuity, a lot of industry, and a touch of the salesman to put these spaces to good use. Artist Randall Anderson seems to possess these characteristics because he has eminently engineered the neces- sary goodwill and sponsorship of Vancouver businesses to mount an unusual art show on the unfinish- ed 12th floor of a downtown office tower. Though the title of the show, Standard Stoppages, suggests a work-shutdown, the intention here is to establish the integrity of ar- Mh The exhibit concerns the ambiguous descriptive power and extraordinary political significance of ordinary language. 99 tistic production. Anderson sets what he calls “objects of a different kind of labor” in a context where they can elicit recognition from people who know what labor is, because they are engaged in the day- to-day grind in their offices. a 7 Choose your tirst pair at the regular p Archie Graham SPOTLIGHT FEATURE Art, in other words, is presented here, not as the outcome of a pro- cess alien to, or separated from, other forms of human work, but as a product that evolves from the same productive energy. While some of the pieces in this show follow the production man- date, none is compromised by the corporate sponsorship. In fact, Greg Snider is one of several artists who appear to bite the hand that feeds them. His Bijoux is a vigorous parody of surplus value. Installed in a makeshift corner wall, and framed in marble, this work looks for all the world like an elite jeweller’s showcase, com- plete with designer gold watches, a brass candlestick, a decorative shell mounted on a gold stand, and a miniature violin. The principal difference be- tween Snider’s showcase and the real thing is the apparently solid gold skull that serves as the delightfully ironic centrepiece that transforms the familiar object into a mock-celebration of gushing ex- cess. Generally speaking, however, FUTURE. YOUR, second pair from our specially tagged collection is FREE! Or buy a pair of Pearle Sot! contact lens ar the regular price and vet a spare pair FREE! [t's a great deal. But you'd berter hurry. The future is closer than you think! VIiSt ON GLASSES IN ONE HOUR* PARK ROYAL SOUTH NEAR THE BAY 925-9515 HAVE YOU GOT YOUR PEARLES ON? * Orfer valid on complete plates of contacts, same Frescnption — most single vision and tilucal pescnprions. Some lens cestnctwite apply. Progressives. Gnts and coanings availble at additional charge on cond pare. No other discounts of insurance benelits apply wath this afiee. options, this exhibition is less concerned with production and surplus value than it is with another burning issue in the contemporary art world: the ambiguous descriptive power and extraordinary political significance of ordinary language. Works by Todd Davis, julie Dushcenes, Mark Grady, Sandra Semchuk, Sharyn Yuen, and Ran- dall Anderson (who is both a con- tributor and a curator here) fall in- to this category. All are strong pieces engaged in dramatizing the remarkable status of words in our super-literate society, and/or the radical discon- , tinuity between things and the words most often used to describe them. One item by Daniel Laskarin il- lustrates the risks involved in this difficult enterprise. A Hopeless Attempt to Know An See First-rate page 31 NEWS photo Neil Lucente MARK GRADY’S What tho’on namely fare we dine is among the werk included in the Standard Stoppages exhibit. : “Enjoy our Soup- of-the- Day with your chéice. of | Freshly Baked Mini Loaf or Cheese. Biscuit, “Selected Dessert and your choice : ‘of: Coffee, Tea or small Soft Drink. AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 17th - 22nd * only. * For a limited time only = Coupons | or other discount not applicable.