An Incomplete Collection of Impossible Projects

An Incomplete Collection of Impossible Projects

Gary R. Libby University Gallery, University Galleries, The University of Florida

An Incomplete Collection of Impossible Projects is the result of a course delivered by artist Eduardo Abaroa to a diverse group of UF students (María del Pilar Arrieta, Taylor Baxley, Ellery Burgess, Salenka Chinchin, Tomas Curcio, Valentina Galván, Rachel Sue Horn, Valerie Luciow, Nicolle Luzardo, Elaine Machado, Gwen Maxwell, Gabriel de la Torre, and Ivonne Zelaya). The artist asked each student to imagine a project that they thought was impossible to conclude. Abaroa designed a dynamic exhibition space to display the impossible projects conceived by the group.

These are some of the guidelines:

Each artist has to imagine an impossible project. Among other possibilities, it can be something fantastic, imaginary, something technically unfeasible, a poetic idea.

Even if a project can not actually be constructed or achieved, a plan can still be imagined to communicate it. The challenge is to make each project visible to other people simulating their imagination via models, props, drawings, videos, text, etc.

Ask important questions: What is the project, exactly? Why is it impossible to make? How would we do it? Why would we do it? Why wouldn´t we do it?

A project may be impossible to complete, but investigating this failure can reveal many things about our lives, fears, hopes, mistakes, and certainties. Some projects are simply too ambitious, others are real technical challenges to human civilizations. We will find examples of poetry, unfettered intellectual ambition, or fantasy.

Eduardo Abaroa and the group of artists devised a wooden polymorphic structure to display the 14 projects resulting from the course. The irregular structure alludes to an evolving discussion, which may turn in unexpected directions, reach dead ends, or piled up without apparent reason. Artistic discussion can be thought of as a particular material itself.

We consider the exhibition space as a medium that demands a constant reflection of its boundaries. For example: Who is the spectator? Who is the artist? That is why we have an “Impossible Projects” depository. Visitors to the show are invited to write down their own impossible projects using the Impossible Project Request Form and then put it in the available Impossible Projects deposit. After the exhibition opens, we will select some of these projects to visualize them in a similar way that we produced our pieces.

This exhibition is possible thanks to the generous support from CLAS and the School of Art + Art History (SA+AH), University of Florida, Gainesville. We are especially thankful to Carlos de la Torre, director of CLAS, for his support and visionary understanding of the importance of cultural manifestations of, from and in Latin America contemporary artistic practices.

Eduardo Abaroa is the Kislak Family Foundation Artist in Residence at the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS).

Exhibition-related Programming

To Be Announced

Additional information

The graduate program in Art History at the University of Florida offers a global art history program covering a breadth of content from across time and space. The program also offers a graduate certificate in curatorial studies. For more information, please visit: https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/art-and-art-history/programs/art-history/degrees-ways-to-study/ 

About University Galleries

The University of Florida University Galleries’ mission is to be a platform for relevant and experimental art research and a place where pressing contemporary conversations are amplified and shared with the university and expanded communities. The UG advances the School of Art + Art History’s commitment to the visual arts by offering an experimental space to

bring people together around art and ideas, improving accessibility and inclusivity through direct student and community engagement; increasing the school’s visibility as a center for critical discourse around artistic research, production, and scholarship, leading with preeminent programming.

University Galleries are comprised of three art galleries. Gary R. Libby University Gallery (GRLUG) provides the greater Gainesville community with a contemporary venue that explores new directions in visual art, incorporating historical perspectives. Exhibitions feature nationally and internationally known artists, studio art faculty, and MFA graduating thesis projects. The Gary R. Libby Focus Gallery and the Constance and Linton Grinter Gallery of International Art present art exhibitions that are organized by graduate student curators, in conjunction with the director of the galleries, allowing students to learn experientially about curation, organization, and exhibition making.

Parking Information

Daytime Parking There are 3 reserved gallery parking spots located in the lot just east of Reid Hall. From SW 13th Street, enter campus via Museum Road, then take the first right into the Orange decal parking lot and follow the lot until it dead-ends. The gallery spots can be found on the right, facing SW 13th Street. A temporary (one-day) parking pass can be retrieved from the Gary R. Libby University Gallery. Parking restrictions for this lot are lifted at 4:30pm.

Reception Parking The closest parking to the Gary R. Libby University Gallery is the lot behind (to the west of) Tigert Hall. From University Avenue, enter campus via Buckman Drive and turn left onto Union Road. Follow Union Road through the 4-way stop. The parking lot entrance is on the right just past Walker Hall. Parking restrictions for this lot are lifted at 5:30pm.

Parking permits are issued to gallery visitors in the University Gallery.

For more information, please contact the University Gallery at (352) 273-3000 or visit our website at www.arts.ufl.edu/galleries.

About the College of the Arts

The College of the Arts is one of the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The College of the Arts offers

baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its three institutionally-accredited schools — the School of Art + Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre + Dance. The college is home to the Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for Arts and Public Policy, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, University Galleries and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. More than 100 faculty members and approximately than 1,200 students work together daily to engage, inspire and create. The college hosts more than 300 performances, exhibitions and events each year. Faculty and students also exhibit and perform at other local, national and international venues. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu. 

Address

400 SW 13th Street
Fine Arts Building B (FAB)
Gainesville
FL 32611

Phone

(352) 273-3000

Website

Gary R. Libby University Gallery Website