DURATION/Size

5’ x 9’ installed

date/location

August 27 - September 11, 2021
The 410 Project, Mankato, MN

materials

repurposed mesh wash bags, secondhand underwear, wire nails

Summary

Intimate Collection is the initiation of an ongoing underwear project inspired by my great grandmothers who hung their delicate bloomers to dry on the bushes in front of their multi-generational home with apparently no shame or embarrassment or concern.

Living in Minneapolis during the simultaneous pandemic and uprising for racial justice (from spring 2020, to date) has informed the shape and methodology of this project. I considered mutual aid efforts, gift economies, zoom intimacy, and pandemic pods.

The project began with a short-term call for underwear on personal social media platforms and neighborhood Buy Nothing groups. The message spread beyond my circles, and individuals populated the collection cauldron on my doorstep with 114 unique pairs in just four days. Additional pairs were added on site at the exhibition in the gallery.

No materials or supplies were directly purchased for this project. The cocoon-like wash bags that hold the underwear were repurposed from a previous project. The wire nails were already in my household hardware stash.

Presenter:

Intimate Collection was a solo work in the group exhibition, Selfhood, presented by The 410 Project. This show featured all femme / trans / women / non-binary artists working in street art and public space.

https://www.mankatolife.com/selfhood-at-the-410-project/

Creators:

Concept, Design, Installation: Erin Lavelle

Contributors: friends, family, neighbors, strangers

Gratitude to everyone who showed up at my doorstep and placed a pair (or several, 114 total!) into the collection cauldron and/or directly populated a pod in the gallery.