NICK CAVE     Meet Me  at the Center of the Earth

“Nick Cave…, a black man, describes the suits as protection against prejudice. … Cave creates these wearable sculptures from a wide variety of throw away materials like twigs and bottle caps and garbage ties, making reference to society’s attitude towards minorities. Highly textural and visually stunning, his suits make sounds as they perform, creating a deeper experience for the viewer.”

“New York Times art critic Roberta Smith wrote of Nick Cave’s solo show at the Shainman Gallery (NYC) last November, “Whether Nick Cave’s efforts qualify as fashion, body art, or sculpture…they fall squarely under the heading Must Be Seen to Be Believed.” Cave has resided as chair of SAIC’s fashion department since 2005, and is a practicing artist who was the recipient of several prestigious awards in 2006. One of fifty-four American artists to receive a $50,000 fellowship from United States Artists, he was also named the recipient of an Artadia Award in the Visual Arts for artists working in Cook County, IL, and was given a $50,000 Joyce Foundation Award to fund the exhibition of his solo show Nick Cave: Soundsuits at the Chicago Cultural Center, which allowed for the creation of several dozen new pieces for the exhibition.”