Contact Kara Meyer Director of External Relations [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Storefront for Art and Architecture presents the U.S. Premiere of: Aircraft Carrier Exhibition Opening: March 7, 2013, 7PM Exhibition: March 7 – April 29, 2013

Fernando Guerra,Azrieli Center, , 2012

“ is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk...and is located in a critical region for American national security.” - Alexander Haig, U.S. Secretary of State, 1981-82.

NEW YORK, NY. Aircraft Carrier surveys the period between two crises of capitalism, first in 1973 and then in 2008, to understand the radical transformation of Israeli architecture. The eventful year of 1973 marks a watershed in the workings of global capitalism, in American strategic interest in the Middle East, and in Israel’s

social, economic and political structures. Together, these elements, shaped by territorial struggles and energy crises, dramatically changed Israeli architecture.

Aircraft Carrier deals with this transformative period and with the American influences through which its innovations, and tragedies, were enabled.

The exhibition is curated by Erez Ella, Milana Gitzin Adiram, and Dan Handel with works by artists Assaf Evron, Fernando Guerra, Florian Holzherr, Nira Pereg, and Jan Tichy. An opening reception will take place on March 7 from 7pm – 9pm.

Aircraft Carrier is an installation to consume in two parts: a "store" where one can purchase cultural goods and an exhibition space to reflect on the goods on display. The first takes the form of a “souvenir” shop where custom-made merchandise items (made by product designer Tal Erez) are on display and available for sale. Each piece of merchandise is representative of a key event in the history of Israeli- American relations; however, the context of each piece is only revealed in the exhibition space. In this space, the merchandise items will become a field of information, in which four architectural “phenomena,” (signals, emporiums, allies and flotillas) comprised of archival materials and commissioned artworks are shown on large display objects.

Aircraft Carrier was shown at the 13th in 2012 to wide acclaim. In its arrival to New York and in the particular neighborhood of Storefront in Soho, the exhibition embraces the new nature of the area where stores and boutiques have emerged in the last decade, to deliver a critical reflection on the exchange of culture through capital means. After its showing at the Storefront for Art and Architecture, Aircraft Carrier will travel to the in .

Aircraft Carrier will be on view at Storefront for Art and Architecture from March 7 – April 29, 2013.

This exhibition is funded in part by Artis, Orian Ltd. (Partner of the DB Schenker Network) and the Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York. Additional support for Storefront for Art in Architecture's exhibitions and programs are made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; public funds from the Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; The Peter T. Joseph Foundation; by its Board of Directors, members and individuals. The exhibition in Venice was funded by the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Israeli Ministry of Culture and

Sport, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azrieli Group, Tefen Industrial Parks, Tel Aviv Municipality, Haifa Arts Foundation, Via Arkadia , Caesarstone ltd., Israel Lottery Council for Culture & Arts, Yediot Aharonot Daily Newspapaer, SIP - Shpilman Institute for Photography.

______More information at www.storefrontnews.org Storefront for Art and Architecture 97 Kenmare Street 10012 New York, NY Tel. 212.431.5795 Fax 212.431.5755

______Press contact: Kara Meyer, Director of External Relations Storefront for Art and Architecture 212.431.5795 [email protected]