Ruptured Silence with Wideman/ Davis Dance

701 Center for Contemporary Art presents a solo exhibition, Ruptured Silence, by New York resident Eto Otitigbe. Ruptured Silence is the title of a performance originally conceived by Wideman/Davis Dance that examined contemporary perspectives about the confederate flag, a bygone symbol, and its usage as an intimidation tool. Otitigbe chose to adopt Ruptured Silence as the title of his solo exhibition at 701 CCA. The exhibition includes a series of sculptures, video experimental drawings that are alternative representations of familiar themes and objects. While in residence at 701 CCA, Otitigbe will collaborate with Wideman/ Davis Dance to develop Ruptured Silence: Racist Symbols and Signs, a new media and dance performance installation that explores the deconstruction of a southern civil rights memento, the confederate flag. Ruptured Silence: Racist Symbols and Signs will be performed March 27 and 28 at 701 Center for Contemporary Art with an open rehearsal on March 19, 1-5pm. During his residency, which ends March 29, Otitigbe will also create a temporary public sculpture, Passing Point, for outside on the Wayne St. side of 701 Whaley. Passing Point, which is inspired by elephant ear woven baskets from the Gullah people, creates a dialogue between mathematics, experimental architecture, and cultural traditions that are underrepresented in much of South Carolina’s public art. The piece, which includes multiple points of entry, allows visitors to insert themselves into a shared experience. Otitigbe will present an artist talk on Passing Point, Sunday, March 15, 3 pm. Eto Otitigbe is a polymedia artist whose practice investigates issues of race, technology, politics, and shared experiences.  He creates opportunities for people to reflect and socialize; his projects can be experienced as a creative protest, a cultural artifact, or sculptural intervention. Otitigbe uses his creative practice to construct knowledge constellations that chart his identity and experiences as a Nigerian-American-Artist-Engineer-DJ, to suggest a few. Otitigbe studied Mechanical Engineering at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts (BS, 1999) and Stanford University, Palo Alto, California (MS, 2003).  He earned an MFA in Creative Practice from the Transart Institute, Berlin & New York (2012).   For further inquiries, contact info@701cca.org or call Sheldon Paschal (803) 319-9949.               701 CCA is a non-profit visual arts center that promotes understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of contemporary art, the creative process and the role of art and artists in the community. The center also encourages interaction between visual and other art forms.             701 CCA is located at 701 Whaley Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29201.  During exhibitions, hours are Wed, 11–8; Thu-Fri, 11-5; Sat, 9-5; Sun, 1-5. For more information, visit www.701cca.org.