art work by Charlotte Kruk, photos by Astrogirl

Cease & Desist addresses issues around the repurposing and recycling of materials that include an identifiable logo or trademark. The exhibition includes a site-specific installation by Los Angeles based artist Carrie Ungerman that examines consumption behavior around drinking water, while San Jose based artist Charlotte Kruk's traditional Spanish matador costumes made from candy wrappers celebrate the public's insatiable sweet tooth and defies the power of the large candy corporation.

The inspiration behind the title of this exhibition comes directly from Kruk's interaction with Mars, Inc., the company that owns candy such as M&Ms and Snickers. When the company learned of Kruk's creations - dresses and outfits made entirely of candy wrappers bearing its candy's names - Mars sent Kruk a "cease and desist" letter, notifying her she was not allowed to continue producing these works of art.

Many works of art have been created from found objects by masters of modern art such as Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso and Robert Rauschenberg, but what happens when art objects include the repurposed trademark of a a major corporation? As a society, we are encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle, however the laws around brand name usage leave the parameters around the reuse of product packaging unclear.

Opening Reception: Friday, Jan. 28th 7pm-9pm Free admission

Exhibit on view through April 17, 2011.

Montalvo Arts Center
Project Space Gallery
15400 Montalvo Road
Saratoga, CA 95071
montalvoarts.org

The Project Space Gallery is located next to the Box Office at Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, Calif. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, or by appointment.