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The Art of Identity Making: I-am-a-Heather opens at Future Tenant Gallery

Heather: to some it conjures a late 1980s flick about gossipy high school girls or the national flower of Norway, while for others, it's the name of a certain Melrose Place babe or simply the girl next door. A compelling new exhibition at Downtown's Future Tenant Gallery puts the moniker Heather under the artistic microscope.

After scouring submissions from all corners of the globe, exhibition curator Heather Mallak and communications coordinator, you guessed it, Heather Jarrett, landed upon 15 artists who are either named Heather or create art centered around the name Heather.

Participating artists represent nine cities, are both male and female and range in age from 20 to 55. From paintings to interactive media to even an indie rock band, the interactive exhibition brings together artists from Ontario, Pittsburgh, Rome, Seattle, New York City, Madison, and beyond.
 
Reflecting issues imbedded in today’s art world, in very Heather-esque ways, the exhibition explores the social and psychological relevance and connotations of names. By observing artwork by Heathers from varying social and geographical climates, the exhibition invites the public to consider the importance and impact of their own first name.

Coinciding with both the Downtown Gallery Crawl on April 25 and the May 3 opening of the 55th Carnegie International, I-am-a-Heather will connect to Pittsburgh’s gallery scene and beyond. A MidShow Mixer on May 3 will feature Heathers (of course!), DJs, and libations, and will be followed by a set by Chicago trio Baby Teeth at Gooski’s, where the group will perform songs from its For the Heathers EP.