A playground for adults

For MFA student Stuart Hyatt, America is the land of sports and shopping, projecting a fascination with self-improvement and self-destruction at the same time. His interactive exhibit "The 8-step Revival" at the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery is a physical representation of this theory. \nThe extravaganza opens today and will run through Friday, culminating with a rock 'n roll performance. The gallery hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For the performance, the doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m.\nTHE EXHIBIT\nHyatt's exhibit is directed to stimulate a genuine interest in the unexpected and to create a fun atmosphere where people can explore their understanding of art as a projection of life.\nThe essence of Hyatt's exhibit is a physical revival through interaction with the eight different steps that he has identified. For him, these steps are each represented by an object: a block, a ball, a rake, a pole, a basket, a cup, a rope, and "goo." Each object symbolizes a part of the everyday life, but viewers are encouraged to find their own meaning in each of the steps. \n"Through the objects, I've tried to subtly comment on America, the celebrity and sports culture," Hyatt said.\nThis display offers the viewers an opportunity to determine their personal level of interaction with the sculptures. They can simply sit on the stadium-style bleachers and watch others, or they can play with the goo -- Hyatt has specifically mastered and improved the Dr. Seussian formula; play catch, climb the blocks, dig for treasures, play with the jumprope, or ride around in an electric car. \n"This is the playground of the future," Hyatt said. "I wanted to create something hands-on, fun, aesthetically over the top." \nTo make sure that visitors remember their experience at the "Revival," each will receive an 8-by-10 full-color photo as a souvenir. \n"The sheer amount of fun cannot be underestimated," said Dana Sperry, Associate Director of SoFA Gallery. "As adults, we don't spend nearly enough time having creative fun -- and that's exactly what Stuart has created here."\nDecked out in green and white, the SoFA Gallery has undergone a complete transformation during the semester break. Hyatt was able to bring the large objects into the space. The exhibit not only took over two rooms of the Gallery, but also extends into the opening hallway and the space across the stairwell. \n"Green is a natural color," Hyatt said. "But I've extracted the natural color and placed it in these plastic, consumer containers."\nThe exhibit will end with a rock performance on Friday night. Hyatt has written an album of music to reflect his personal view of the eight steps. According to him, the songs are catchy, sparkly, pop-sounding. The performance will be videotaped and released on DVD at a later date.\n"I wanted to combine the visceral and emotional immediacy of a loud rock concert with the intellectual and passive experience of a contemporary art exhibit," Hyatt said. "The challenge was to translate the meaning of the project into music."\nHyatt has played the violin since the age of three, and has taught himself to play guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard -- all necessary to project his understanding of art into music. \nPreparation\nFor Hyatt, this exhibition is the grand finale of a year-long process to bring it all off. He started with the premise that any art school is open to new ideas. For Hyatt, the structure of a university is about promoting a thirst for knowledge and a search for new ideas. \n"The stereotype is that the edgier work happens outside the university hall," Hyatt said. "This shows that a university can accept something new and exciting."\nA year ago, Hyatt presented the project to SoFA. Instead of putting together a short proposal, Hyatt built a scale model of the future exhibit with built-in displays and miniature sculptures. He also compiled a packet explaining what each of the objects represents. \n"I know that there are more talented and creative artists than me," Hyatt said. "But no one works harder and is as persistent as I am."\nOriginally from Indianapolis, the 28-year-old already has some tough projects under his belt. After graduating from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1997, Hyatt worked as one of four principal designers of the COSI Columbus Project, a $125 million interactive science and technology museum in Columbus, Ohio. In the spring of 2002, he also developed and promoted a charity campaign for the Indiana Children's Wish Fund -- "Mustaches for Kids," where 20 Bloomington males grew and maintained mustaches in exchange for pledge money. His past experiences helped SoFA make the decision to let Hyatt use the exhibition space.\n"A show like this is a great way to kick off the semester," Sperry said. "Young artists cross lines a lot. It's interesting to see how this space can be used."\nFor six months since the gallery accepted his proposal, Hyatt has been thinking about and working on the exhibit, taking time in between to eat and sleep. \n"It's an impressive feat," Sperry said. "The sheer amount of resources and money that went into this show demonstrates Stuart's scope."\nTo set up his exhibit, Hyatt asked fellow art students for help. \n"This is really about a community of artists helping each other," said junior Rachel Brewer, a sculpture student. "It's been lots of fun."\nTHE FUTURE\nAfter he wraps up the Bloomington exhibit and finishes his degree, Hyatt plans to take the show on the road -- anywhere from concert halls to galleries.\nWherever he will take "The 8-step Revival," Hyatt said he hopes to bring a new perspective on contemporary art. \nTo learn more about the exhibition, visit www.8steprevival.com or sofa.fa.indiana.edu.