SHELTER
n.1. That which covers or shields from exposure or danger; a place of safety. 2. The state of being sheltered or protected. -v.t. 1. To provide protection or shelter for; shield, as from danger or inclement weather. Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary, NY, 1974
On October 22 and 23, the group Across the Bridge takes over an empty lot in Williamsburg to tackle the subject of shelter. The nine artists interpret the subject matter not only through a variety of media, but also through their individual understanding of what it means to be sheltered.
The concept of shelter includes not just the tangible protection from the elements, but also conveys a sense of sanctuary: a place that is physically and emotionally safe.
The need for protection from the outer world is with us from the very beginning. We spend nine months in our mothers’ wombs, and some might argue that we spend our lives looking for that same sense of security. In the physical world, the need for shelter becomes a matter of survival and shapes the course of our lives. Conversely, the life, personality, culture and ethnicity of the individual will shape the form of the shelter s/he creates.