Maren Hassinger's artistic journey is a captivating exploration of the extraordinary within the ordinary. Her sculptures, performances, and videos invite us to reconsider the mundane and find magic in the everyday.
The Magic of Maren Hassinger
Hassinger's 50-year career has been a testament to her unique ability to transform simple actions into captivating art. From tying knots to blowing breath into plastic bags, her work challenges our perception of what art can be.
"There's an enchanting quality to her creations," says Anthony Graham, senior curator at the Berkeley Art Museum. "Hassinger's talent lies in her ability to transform materials and spaces, offering us a fresh perspective on the familiar."
One of her earliest pieces, Untitled Rope, is a perfect example. Four thick industrial ropes, arranged in a loose macrame knot, teeter on the edge of being pulled tight. Graham suggests an intriguing possibility: "Imagine if we all joined hands and tied off those ropes. We'd be pulling apart yet coming together."
Knots and Connections
Knots are a recurring theme in Hassinger's work, symbolizing the intricate connections we forge. In Sign of the Times, she transforms strips of the New York Times into massive ropes, hanging from gallery walls like jungle vines. This piece, and others like it, highlight the beauty in the mundane, turning consumerist trash into a source of wonder and humanity.
"Hassinger's work often focuses on the invisible, the repetitive actions that become essential building blocks of our shared lives," Graham explains. "Tying knots, for instance, is an everyday skill, but it can also be decorative or industrial. In her hands, these routine practices become a means of reaching out and connecting."
Community and Care
Hassinger's art extends beyond the gallery walls, inviting audiences to participate and engage. Her piece Love (Pyramid) involves filling plastic bags with breath and love notes, creating a huge, interactive sculpture. This work requires ongoing care, involving museum staff in Hassinger's quotidian practices.
The Berkeley Art Museum has embraced this community aspect, hosting workshops to build Sign of the Times over time. These workshops are more than just art-making; they're a way to bring people together, breaking down hierarchies and creating a sense of togetherness.
"Hassinger's work challenges the usual power dynamics in an art museum," Graham says. "By inviting everyday people into her creative process, she creates a caring world where we're all just people interacting."
Race, Identity, and Politics
While Hassinger's sculptural work often focuses on the everyday, her video pieces delve into the politics of race and identity. Birthright traces her family history, while Daily Mask explores the concept of blackface. As a Black female artist in the 1970s, Hassinger faced challenges finding her place in the art world, but she found community and support from other Black avant-garde artists.
Her career has been a journey of recognition and validation, from her time in New York to her position as director of the Reinhardt School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Shows like Now Dig This! at the Hammer Museum have brought attention to the pioneering work of Black artists, helping to rewrite art history.
A Retrospective and a Call to Action
Hassinger's retrospective at the Berkeley Art Museum is a celebration of her career and a much-needed reminder of the simplicity and joy in her practice. At its core, her art is about caring and sharing, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the world around us.
"Hassinger's work is a call to action," Graham reflects. "It's a reminder that even the smallest gestures, when done together, can create meaningful change."
Maren Hassinger: Living Moving Growing is a testament to the power of art to inspire, connect, and transform.
