ANNIE HECKMAN

It was about a year ago that I was working with Matthew Dal Santo & Terri L. Russ to put the finishing touches on the book form of Airline to Heaven, Part I. Some of the writings had been in the works for years, but the final words of the preface were written in March of 2008.

Recently I cracked open the book again as I was sorting through some things. I try to check in with all our books regularly to keep cultivating ideas for how to talk about them, promote them, and to decide what to do next. Opening the book quickly became a full read. Do you remember finding writings or drawings you made in 3rd grade when you were already a year older in 4th grade, and being like ‘Oof, this is so embarrassing, who would say that — ugh yech’ etc. etc. This has pretty much consistently happened to me throughout my life (and then after maybe 5 years pass the work becomes a relic of a precious, unknowing, naive time), but I have to say that this book is passing the one-year test very well. Phew.

Here’s an image of the installation from the Chicago Art Open. The installation became wider, in anticipation of its expanded version in the Hammes Gallery at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame Indiana, coming up in January 2008.

Airline to Heaven, Part I will be on view at the Chicago Art Open this October. This is a huge group show put together by the Chicago Artists Coalition.
The 10th Annual Chicago Art Open will take place October 4 - 27, 2007 at Iron Studios, 3636 S. Iron St., Chicago, IL 60609. Hours: 11am-5pm daily.

Curators for this year are:
Sabina Ott, Artist and Chair, Art and Design Department, Columbia College
Karen Irvine, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College
Linda Warren, Proprietor, Linda Warren Gallery

Opening Benefit of the Chicago Art Open
October 5, 2007
6pm-10pm
In keeping with the Chicago Artists’ Month theme of Creative Alliances, the Chicago Artists’ Coalition has invited the Old Town School of Folk Music to organize the entertainment for the Opening Benefit. Tickets are $20 per person and include food and drink. Available at the door.

30-second preview of Airline to Heaven, Part I, 2006
Full running time 4 minutes, 20 seconds
Animation created by Annie Heckman
Music: Lóra Csikós (To Horse, Herdsman) by Muzsikás, Élô Népzene - Living Hungarian Folk Music, Released in Audio CD by Hungaroton (23 January, 2001). Used with kind permission.
Thank you to Peter Clark and Peter Campus.