Collection records interactive parade

Christopher Blank

These giant megaphones on wheels were quilted together from tin cans for April's "Memphis Heavyweight" parade.

On a sunny afternoon last April, the enormous, colorful objects currently on display at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis were paraded before the public.

Literally.

As in, they were built for a parade.

They now stand as a testament to that singular, perambulating day of performance art created to make viewers think about issues in their community, from healthy eating to immigration policies.

The exhibit, titled "Memphis Heavyweight" (running through Sept. 28), was the concept of Chicago-based artist Nick Cave (not to be confused with the Australian singer). A public reception will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the museum.

The acclaimed artist was invited to work with the University of Memphis last year. Cave, who hadn't previously been to this city, created the title of the parade, "Memphis Heavyweight," and asked various groups and classes to approach the theme with their own ideas.

"He really wants art to help people feel better about themselves," said Art Museum director Leslie Luebbers. "He does a lot of what I like to call 'intervention' where people dress up in costumes and show up flash-mob style. But for this, he wanted it to be a legit parade."

Cave visited the university several times between November 2010 and last April, meeting with the participants who were working on their "floats." Between visits, Cave used Skype to keep up with the construction process.

"He didn't give a lot of instruction on how to make things, but he did tell people when they weren't doing something good enough for him," Luebbers said.

Cave, perhaps best known as a sculptor, is director of the graduate fashion program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His most critically acclaimed works are called Soundsuits -- colorful sculptures made from objects that can be worn by dancers to produce a variety of noises when they move. An exhibition of his Soundsuits is now touring the country.

Cave also trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, which informs the idea of movement in his artwork.

The University of Memphis exhibit consists of videos and photographs from the parade, along with costumes, props and several of the bigger parade objects themselves.

One tall metal costume piece, looking like a huge robot, is called "Mega Hug" and was worn like a giant backpack. While marching in it, the wearer repeatedly slammed its metal legs to the ground to the rhythm of drummers.

Members of an art history class, dressed in colorful caftans, held aloft a long piece of fabric symbolizing the Nile and Mississippi Rivers.

Healthful eating was the theme of a Saturday art class for kids ages 7-12, who had a green garden theme to their costumes.

Two notable pieces on display are giant megaphones on wheels, quilted together from large tin cans. They were propelled in the parade by birdlike people and symbolized "the failure of communication in a world of clashing media noise and ideological deafness."

"The exhibit gives a good idea of what the project is all about," Luebbers said. "Some of the objects are really quite fascinating and beautiful."

'Memphis Heavyweight'

The exhibit continues through Sept. 28 at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, 142 Communication Fine Arts Building on the UofM campus. A reception is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9. Museum hours are 9-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. For information, call 678-2224.

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