Hyperlocal Materialism

This presentation introduces the collaborative practice of interdisciplinary artists Kate Hampel and Nicole Seisler, who reconsider their respective materials (fiber, clay) in ways that encompass the performativity and site-specificity of being here now.

Hyperlocal materialism proposes an aesthetic of place that goes beyond the current ethos of material culture, which typically understands the multi-faceted identity of material and objects through their making, their use value, and their historicity. Through our work we propose that sourcing—which may be variously taken to encompass proximity, accessibility, seasonality, abundance, lack of preciousness—be understood as an essential component of materiality.

As a practice, the work is temporally and geographically specific, located in different regions of the United States according to where the artists are based (currently Southern California and Southeast Ohio). Each iteration begins with joint exploration to collect traditionally-foraged food items as well as riverbed clay and plant materials for natural dyes and papers. This culminates in a collaborative public presentation with a chef, where the meal as well as the dishes, serving utensils, and table settings reflect the terroir of their place of origin.

As artists who work in fields that are both embedded in material culture and often associated with craft, we find these connections between contemporary making and historical and folk practices a natural fit. This presentation will explore the ways in which this methodology of place-based awareness can inform and expand on material culture, while intersecting with contemporary art practices.