Optimus primAtive: Research Lab Open Friday Aprill 11th, 2014

“Optimus primAtive: Research Lab,” an exhibition created by artist Michael K. Taylor, opens Friday, April 11, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Community Artists’ Collective. The exhibition runs through May 31st, 2014.

Taylor has created a speculative fiction based auto-biographical exhibition using games, maps, found objects, sculpture and poetry. Taylor began creating the “Optimus primAtive” narrative as an art practice platform to continue creating work during a severe injury that inhibited his ability to differentiate memories, experiences, and imagined possibilities. The exhibition represents a studio or laboratory of a character researching his belief in the possibility of existing during various time and space experiences. Themes includes messages left in falling stars, searches underwater and conversation with Houstonians about themselves and the city which may lead to clues.

The artwork in the exhibition began creation over the year through residencies and workshops at Atlantic Center for the Arts (Florida), Woodstock-Byrdcliffe (New York), Ox-Bow School (Michigan), Goldsmith University (London) and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts where Taylor has been developing ideas and gathering material.

The exhibition was supported through the City of Houston and Houston Arts Alliance (HAATX) with an Established Artist Grant.

For more info on Michael K Taylor please visit mktartist.com.

The Collective, located in the Midtown Art Center Tea Room Gallery, 1413 Holman at LaBranch, is open Thursday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more gallery information contact The Collective at 713-523-1616 or visit www.thecollective.org.

The Community Artists’ Collective programs are supported in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the Texas Commission on the Arts, H-E-B and through collaborations with community organizations. The Collective is a member of Fresh Arts.