Laura Parnes work blurs the boundaries that define cinema and video art by using cinematic references as elements of installations. Echoing the staging of her own productions, Parnes’ requires that the audience to physically enter the production set in order to participate in this work.  The space of these works becomes indeterminate, reality tightly nested in layers of art, popular culture, and experience. Knitting together references as diverse as Guy Debord and Julia Kristeva with South Park or art criticism with Forrest Gump, a world is created that nears a state of total schizophrenia – even while retaining narrative coherence.

Central to the work is the nature of transgression in an age where everything is caught in complex layers of mediation. In the relative isolation of the living room, we view super-social events on the news and on TV shows like Survivor, Blind Date, Boot Camp, Jerry Springer, as well as on the latest releases from the corner video store.  In this atmosphere, individual, actual experience is suspect as fabrication –  and transgression loses necessary perspective.

Laura Parnes lives and works in Brooklyn. She has shown her videos, installations and performed at numerous places including:  "Video Viewpoints", The Museum of Modern Art,; NYC, "The 1997 Whitney Biennial", Whitney Museum of American Art; NYC, NY, The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn, New York, Threadwaxing Space; NYC, NY, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions; LA, CA, The Institute for Contemporary Art /P.S. 1 Museum; NYC, NY and Deitch Projects; NYC, NY. She is also a curator and co-founder (along with Eric Heist) of Momenta Art, an alternative space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Laura Parnes

72 Berry Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
tel/fax 718.218.8058
gaamara@mindspring.com


Exhibitions and Screenings

2002 MELODRAMA, (a travelling exhibition curated by Markus Mascher and Doreet
LeVitte-Harten), ARTIUM, Centro-Museo Vasco de Arte Contemporáneo,Vitoria, Spain.
The Empire Strikes Back, ATM Gallery, NYC, NY
Double Vision, Pacific Film Archives, University of California, Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley, Ca.
In and Out of Control, (curated by Tanya Leighton), The Holden Gallery,
Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, England
New York Underground Film Festival, NYC, NY
2001 Video Viewpoints, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Brooklyn!, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, Palm Beach, Fla.
Mimic, (curated by Robert Boyd), Gail Gates, Bkln., NY
2000    Death Race 2000, (curated by Rachel Lowther), Threadwaxing Space, New York, NY
Heidi 2, (collaboration with Sue de Beer), Deitch Projects, New York, NY
Impakt Festival, Utrecht, HOLLAND
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, LA, CA
Video Parking Lot, Vendetta Gallery, Chicago, IL
New York Underground Film Festival, New York, NY
One Night Stand, Joao Ferreira Fine Art, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
1999    Holiday Benefit, The New Museum, New York, NY
Spectacular Optical, CU Arts Galleries, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO.
Parking, Mayday Productions, New York, NY.  
I’m a Virgin, The Waiting Room, Wolverhampton, ENGLAND
Avignon.New York Film Festival, The French Institute, New York, NY.  The Greatest Show on Earth, presented by Mayday Productions, APEX Art, New York, NY.
1998    Reel New York, PBS, Channel 13 Broadcast, New York, NY
Spectacular Optical, curated by Lia Gangitano, Threadwaxing Space, New York, NY,
Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL
Theater of Cruelty, curated by Robert Boyd, Christinerose Gallery, New York, NY
Video Library, David Zwirner, New York, NY
No is Yes, Four Walls, Brooklyn, NY
Spoonful of Sugar, curated by Lisa Platt, Rutgers University, New York, NY.
Video Room Video Festival, Brooklyn, NY
The Images Festival, Toronto, CANADA
Ruth and Al’s Outpost Extravaganza, Knitting Factory, New York, NY
Hybro, Exit Art: The First World, New York, NY
1997    Whitney Biennial Exhibition, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Current Under Current Working in Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn,
   NY
   The Best of New York Shorts Expo, Knitting Factory, New York, NY
   Video Tensions, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
   The Images Festival, Toronto, CANADA
   Monitor, The City Gallery of Wellington, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
   Monitor, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND
   New York Shorts Expo, New York, NY
   The Sit In, Clocktower Gallery, The Institute for Contemporary Art/ P.S. 1 Museum,
        New York, NY
   Talent Show, Bronwyn Keenan, New York, NY
   Parasitic Trilogy at Postmasters, Artmoving, New York, NY
   Aphrodisia Benefit, Alternative Museum, New York, NY
1996    Benefit for Bailey House, Leo Castelli, New York, NY
   Monitor, The Physics Room, NEW ZEALAND
   Simpler, Gavin Brown Enterprise, New York, NY
   Shag, curated by Kristin Lucas, Toronto, CANADA
   In the Flow, curated by Daniel Georges, Franklin Furnace, New York, NY
   Celebrity’hood, Longwood Arts Gallery, Bronx, NY
1995    Ladies, Chassie Post, New York, NY
   Artist’s Space, New York, NY
Boudoir-in-Exile, The Institute for Contemporary Arts/ P.S. 1 Museum, Long   Island City, NY
Mon Voyage a New York, Galerie Elizabeth Valleix, Paris, FRANCE and New
   York, NY
   Independence, NYU TV Broadcast, New York, NY
   Either/Or, curated by Kenny Schacter, Flamingo East, New York, NY
   Other Rooms, Ronald Feldman, New York, NY
   Basel Art Fair, with Elizabeth Valliex, Basel, SWITZERLAND
   Spring Collection, Sauce, Brooklyn, NY
1994    Played, curated by Kenny Schachter, Printed Matter, New York, NY
   Pain, Krome Schutter, Cologne, GERMANY
   Pain, Here, New York, NY
   Encore # 1, Trial Balloon, New York, NY
1993    The Body Political, Test Site, Brooklyn, NY
   The Art of Self-Defense…, Momenta Art, Brooklyn, NY
   Graphic Depictions, Trial Balloon, New York, NY
   MOB, Speedway Gallery, Boston, MA
   Songs of Retribution, curated by Nancy Spero, Richard Anderson, New York, NY
1992    The Temporal Image, Momenta Art, Philadelphia, PA
   Unrealized Projects/The Radio Show, Four Walls at Artist’s Space, New York, NY




Bibliography

2002    Holland Cotter, "The Empire Strikes Back", The New York Times, April 12, 2002, NYC,
    NY.
2001    Naif Yahya, "Mimic, Sardonico Encanto",  Espectador, December 11, 2001, p. 80,
     Mexico City, Mexico.
Tumlir, Jan,  "Seducing the Sequel", Artext, No. 72, February/April, 2001, pp. 32-33,
        LA, CA.
   Hilger, Stephen, "Sue de Beer and Laura Parnes at Los Angeles Contemporary
        Exhibitions", Art Issues, January/February, 2001, p. 43, LA, CA.
2000    Willis, Holly, "Signal to Noise, Heidi 2: The Unauthorized Sequel", LA Weekly,
    Calendar-Film, October 27-November 2, 2000, LA, CA.
Dambrot, Nys Shana, "Paul McCarthy at Patrick Painter, Sue deBeer and Laura
  Parnes at LACE", Artweek, volume 31, issue 12, December 2000, San Francisco,
 CA.  
Rush, Michael, "Sue de Beer and Laura Parnes at Deitch Projects", Art in America,
        November, 2000, p.171, New York, NY.
Williams, Gregory. "Sue de Beer/Laura Parnes", Frieze, June, 2000, Issue 52, pp.
       110-111, London, ENGLAND.
Ayerza, Josefina & Lebowitz, Cathy. "Heidi 2 – Sue de Beer/Laura Parnes", Lacanian  INC, May, 2000, pp. 92-103, New York, NY.
Cohen, Michael. "the Love Mechanics", Flash Art, Vol. XXXIII, Summer, 2000, pp.
        90-93, Rome, ITALY.
Hegarty, Laurence. "Sue de Beer and Laura Parnes", New Art Examiner, June,
   2000, pp. 40-41, Chicago, IL.
Hunt, David. "Sue de Beer and Laura Parnes, Heidi 2", Time Out New York,
    February 17-24, 2000, Issue 230, New York, NY.
Levin, Kim, "Sue de Beer & Laura Parnes + Momoyo Torimitsu", Village Voice,
   Voice Choices, February 15, 2000, New York, NY.
Smith, Roberta. "Sue de Beer and Laura Parnes, Heidi 2", New York Times, February 18, 2000, p. E44, New York, NY.
Dannet, Adrian, "Girrrls on Film", The Art News Paper, Dealers Gazette, No. 100,
    February, 2000, p. 69.
The New Yorker, "Sue de Beer and Laura Parnes, February 14, 2000, p. 14, New
    York, NY.
Van Bosch, Cobus. "Pap van meet af styl aangemaak in nuwe kunsjaar." Die
   Burger, January 13, 2000, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA.
1999    Saltz, Jerry.  "Hungry Hearts: A Romp Through the Fall Art Season", The Village
    Voice, Vol. XLIV, No. 36, SEP 14, 1999, p. 69, New York, NY.
Moody, Tom.  "Double Your Transgression, Double Your Fun, Heidi 2", VERY, Fall,
    1999, pp. 16-17, New York, NY.
   Von Schlegell, Mark.  "Digitalia WDBNMSWD Digitalia Remix", NYArts, Vol. 4, No. 7,
         1999, pp. 9-11, New York, NY.
1998    Mahoney, Robert.  "Spectacular Optical", TimeOut New York, June 18-25, 1998, p.
         54, New York, NY.
   Posner, Michael.  "Art a Dead Ringer for Film", The Globe and Mail, p. A14, Toronto,
        CANADA
    "Miami – Spectacular Optical", Flash Art, NOV-DEC, 1998, Rome, ITALY.
Lee, Chris.  "Film and Video", Waterfront Week, 1998, Vol. 8.11, p. 17, Brooklyn,
    NY.
    "New York – Spectacular Optical", Flash Art, SUMMER, 1998, Rome, ITALY.
   Spectacular Optical, exhibition catalog, co-published by Trans>arts.cultures.media
        and Threadwaxing Space, 1998, New York, NY.
The Theater of Cruelty, exhibition catalog, published by the Christine Rose Gallery,
  1998, New York, NY.
   Images Festival of Independent Film and Video, festival catalog, 1998, Toronto,
        CANADA.
1997    Princenthal, Nancy.  "In the Flow", Art in America, NOV, 1997, New York, NY.
Taubin, Amy.  "Film Choices", Village Voice, OCT, 1997, p.6, Voice Choices, New
   York, NY.
Freedman, Matt.  "Space Mountain (and other diversions)", Review Magazine, APR,
  1997, pp. 9-11, New York, NY.
   Bankowsky, Jack.  "Whitney Watch", ArtFORUM, MAR, 1997, p. 31, New York, NY.
   Odita, Donald.  "Conversations with Gallery Directors", aRude Magazine, SPRING,
       1997, New York, NY.
   31st Annual Film Festival, festival catalog, published by the New York Expo, 1997,
        New York, NY.
   Images Festival of Independent Film and Video, festival catalog, 1997, Toronto,
        CANADA.
   1997 Biennial Exhibition, exhibition catalog, The Whitney Museum of American Art,
        1997, New York, NY.
1996    Galloway, Munro.  "Brooklyn 2001", Art Press, APR, 1996, FRANCE.
   In the Flow, exhibition catalog, The Franklin Furnace, New York, NY.
   Celebrity’hood, exhibition catalog, Longwood Arts Gallery, Bronx, NY.
1995    "Art Choices", PAPER Magazine, New York, NY.
   Reich, Anne.  "Vom Leiben an Anderen Ufer", Reise Und Erolong, DEC 2, 1995,
        GERMANY.
   Westerbeck, Kate.  "Alternative Spaces", Tart, New York, NY.
1994    "A Wretch Like Me", White Walls, No. 35, edit. Robert Blanchon, pp. 78-79, Chicago,
   IL.
"How many Bad Feminists Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb", sixty percent
   solution, edit. Laura Cottingham, 1994, New York, NY.
1993    Saltz, Jerry.  "May Day", Art in America, New York, NY.
   Promotional Copy, edit. Robin Kahn, New York, NY.
   In And Out, Back And Forth, published by Frieze Magazine, London, ENGLAND.
   The St. Jude You Prick Chain Letter Series, self-published, available at Printed
        Matter, New York, NY.
   The Art of Self-Defense and Revenge Kit, package of multiples, published by
        Momenta Art, Brooklyn, NY.
   "NY Press Picks", NY Press, New York, NY (photo).






Related Experience

1993-2001    Momenta Art, Co-Director, Brooklyn, NY
2000-2002    New York University, Faculty, Fine Arts Department, New York, NY
1998-1999    New School for Social Research, Faculty, Fine Arts Department, New York, NY
2000    UCLA, Artist's Talk, LA, CA
   SVA, Artist's Talk, New York, NY
1999    Yale University, Artist’s Talk, New Haven, CT
   Film-Maker’s Cooperative, Board of Directors, New York, NY
   Artist’s Space, Open Call Video Juror, New York, NY
   Columbia University, Artist’s Talk, New York, NY
   PS 1 Museum of Art, Studio Program Juror, Long Island City, NY
   New York University, Artist’s Talk, New York, NY
   Tyler School of Art, Artist’s Talk, Philadelphia, PA
   California State University at Fullerton, Artist’s Talk, Los Angeles, CA
   Creative Time, City Wide Projects Curator, Brooklyn, NY
1998    Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, Artist’s Talk, Miami, FL
   BACA, Visual Arts Panelist, Brooklyn, NY
   Cooper Union, Artist’s Talk, New York, NY
   Thread Waxing Space, Spectacular Optical Panel Discussion, New York, NY
   Tyler School of Art, Artist’s Talk, Philadelphia, PA
   Rutgers University, Artist’s Talk, NJ
1997    Whitney Museum of American Art, Artist’s Talk, New York, NY
   MTA, Public Arts Program Consultant, New York, NY
   New York University, Artist’s Talk, New York, NY
   Brooklyn Museum, Film and Video Program consultant, Brooklyn, NY
   Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Panel Discussion, Staten Island, NY
1996    ATOA, Brooklyn Artist-Run Spaces Panel Discussion, New York, NY
New School for Social Research, The Artist as Curator Panel Discussion, New
  York, NY
1995    PS 1 Museum of Contemporary Art, Privacy Panel Discussion, Long Island City,
  NY
   Thread Waxing Space, N.A.A.O. Panel Discussion, New York, NY
   Art Initiatives, panel discussion, New York, NY



Education

1990    BFA, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

Awards, Grants & Residencies

1999    Wexner Center Artist-in-Residence, Columbus, OH.
1998    Harvestworks Artist-in-Residence, New York, NY.
1997-1998    The Experimental Television Center Residency, Owego, NY.