Commission for Treasonous Strategies is a collaborative exhibit between Justseeds member Shaun Slifer and Claire & Tesar Freeman, a presentation of sculptural work which reflects upon the history of the United States and raises questions about the perceived authority of objects and relics when housed in sanctioned museums.
 
I’ve made a gilded replica of the homemade dagger that Alexander Berkman used in his assassination attempt on coke magnate Henry Clay Frick during the Homestead Strike in 1892. Meanwhile, Tesar and Claire have been at work hand-embroidering re-workings of American Revolution-era flags, notably the Gadsden flag (recently co-opted by “Tea Party” types). We hope to echo something of an alternative history museum within our temporary space.
 
We share a deep passion/rampant nerdiness for U.S. history and a fascination with museums and memorial practices. Commission for Treasonous Strategies is our first effort at incorporating our shared ideas under one roof. We have been keeping a scrolling blog of in-progress images and tangential research/thoughts as we go, which you can browse at slifer-freeman.tumblr.com
 
Hopefully you can join us for the opening next Friday evening, 6-9pm, but, if not, the exhibit is up for almost two months during regular hours (see below). I will do a follow-up post in a couple of weeks with photos once the exhibition is up.
 
Where: 707 Penn Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh on Penn at Seventh Avenue.
open hours:
Wed-Thurs: 11am-6pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-8pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
Free and open to the public.