New York's School of Visual Arts, Tuesday, November 21, 2017. 6:30 TO 8:00pm. Free and open to the public.

New York's School of Visual Arts Master of Fine Arts program presents world famous artist Elaine Byrne who will speak about her work and her recent video installation, "women boxed" featuring found footage of the magic trick of women being sawed in half and interviews with barrier-breaking magician Dorothy Dietrich, also known as "the first lady of magic," "The Woman Who Saws Men in Half", and the first and only women in history to accomplish the jinxed catching of a bullet in her mouth, often called the stunt that scared Houdini. Dorothy Dietrich is scheduled for the interview portion. women boxed is a three-channel video installation that invites dialogue about how women's labor is viewed in society, using the magic trick of sawing a woman in half as a pivotal metaphor.

Byrne observes, "The world of magic has been dominated by men, where the magician actively drives the story and the female assistant functions as a spectacle for the male gaze. The magician's assistant brings the action to a stop and captures the spectators' attention—she freezes the flow of events for moments of erotic contemplation." Evoking ever-present gender inequality, the female assistant plays the role of victim. She is a woman literally encased in a box, seeming to await her fate. In actuality, the female assistant is largely responsible for the success of the trick, but her labor is hardly recognized.

One of Byrne's three videos was recently filmed on location at the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the artist filmed the renowned female magician, Dorothy Dietrich. Called the first woman to saw a man in half, Dietrich speaks about her role as a female magician in a male-dominated industry. At a time when women continue fighting for many freedoms and equalities all over the world, women boxed alludes to these struggles through the arena of magic and illusion.

Elaine Byrne (born in Ireland and currently based in New York) examines overlooked histories, historical texts and artworks as a platform to mobilize history relating to current social concerns. Byrne received her BA from University College of Dublin, and her MA in Visual Arts Practices from IADT, Dublin (2009). She completed the Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Study Program (2015). She has had solo shows at Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin; Montoro12, Rome; Limerick City Gallery; Oonagh Young Gallery, Dublin; and Atrio Cultura Space, Mexico. She was the winner of the 8th Arte Laguna sculpture prize (2014) and T.I.N.A. prize (2015). Her work is in permanent collections including: the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Rosenbach Museum and Library, Pennsylvania; Office of
Public Works, Ireland; The Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland; and PWC, London, England. She is represented by the Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.

This exhibition was coordinated by Alexandra Friedman, Program Coordinator, ISCP. ISCP supports the creative development of artists and curators, and promotes exchange through residencies and public programs. This exhibition was supported, in part, by Yoko Ono, by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Elaine Byrne utilizes a research-based methodology to explore a wide range of topics. Both the form and the content of her work evolve as the research proceeds. She often makes use of installation in various forms, including exhibition design, as a way to combine many of her disparate interests. Her work attempts to rupture the historical event, making what we understand as past historical events unstable. She focuses on opening new questions for the viewer to highlight present day urgencies. Giving prominence to language, her methodology often uses the interview as a way to confront difficult legal or civic issues.

Mario Marchese will give a magic performance, and a conversation between the guests will follow.

This will take place in Room 101C, 133/141 West 21st Street, New York, NY