Color Coded

May 18 – June 12, 2006

At a moment when the legality of marriage is a significant public issue, Linda and Ed Calhoun revisit history.  Sixteen states had “anti-miscegenation” laws which were ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court Loving v. Virginia decision on June 12, 1967. Each state used distinct and original language for incorporating these laws into their legal codes. “Color Coded” is a verbatim translation of these laws using a coded alphabet. State slogans name each of the sixteen works.

Artist Statement

As an artistic team, Ed and Linda Calhoun offer a unique perspective of the world; a multicultural blend of African American, Caucasian, southern, northeastern, male, female, extrovert, introvert. Searching for honesty, a common thread in their work is the exploration of truth and behavior.

Biography

Ed and Linda Calhoun settled in San Francisco in the fall of 2004 after an extended cross country trip across the US at the end of a four year stay in Paris. They are currently working on a series of collaborative artistic projects together.

Ed is originally from Arkansas, and although he originally made his career in construction, he has always been passionate about art. Upon moving to Paris in 2000, he has pursued his artistic vision on a fulltime basis and has had several solo shows of his photography and oil paintings.

Linda grew up in Connecticut and worked in the arts in Chicago (Chicago Cultural Center), politics in Hartford (state legislature staff), foreign affairs in Washington DC (World Bank), and economic development in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (USAID). She is producer of Career Girls, an interactive series of interviews aimed at mentoring young women of color. Although Linda hosted a public affairs program in 1993, she made her first film during a trip to South Africa as an election observer in 1994.

Conceptual Art

When Linda Was 8 Years Old…Color Coded, (A prismatic translation of racism and economic exploitation), 2005. Color coded translations provide a snapshot in history at a time when interracial marriage was illegal in the U.S. It is a sobering backdrop to the current discussion on same sex marriage.

Birds of a Feather, 2005. Resembling birds on a wire, multiple handheld televisions feature prominent media messengers of America’s right wing in full propaganda mode.

Filmography

Ship Poem, 2005. 5 minute experimental short film on the passing of time. Ed Calhoun.

Sanctuary, 2005. 75 second short film. Respite from chaos. Ed and Linda Calhoun. Chicken Love, 1999. 3 minute short film exploring relationships. Tulsa Underground Film Festival. Video installation at Hardshare Collective exhibition, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Produced, directed, and edited by Ed and Linda Calhoun.

Witness to Freedom, 1995. 29 minute documentary on the 1994 South African elections and parallels to Civil Rights struggles in the United States. Connecticut Public Television. Co-produced and edited by Linda (Johnson) Calhoun.

Ed Calhoun Recent Exhibitions

2005 B/W photographs Russell Rotunda US Senate Building, Washington, DC

2004 Mixed media Transcultural Exchange “Tile Project”, 22 countries

2004 B/W photographs Thomas & Paula Falciglia Art Gallery, International College, Naples, FL

2004 B/W photographs Utah Beach Musee du Debarquement, Sainte Marie du Mont, France

2004 B/W photographs Musee des Rangers, Grandcamp-Maisy, France

2004 Oil painting Filmed in Jacques Audiard’s De Battre Mon Coeur S’est Arrete, Paris, France

2004 B/W photographs Published in the book “Eyewitness D-Day”, Barnes & Noble Publishing, NY

2004 Mixed media TransCultural Exchange “Coaster Project”

2004 Oil/mixed media paintings Solo Exhibition, Tsenka Art & Design, Paris, France

2004 Oil/mixed media paintings Solo Exhibition, Hugues Chevalier, Paris, France

2004 Oil/mixed media paintings Group Exhibition, Musee des Arts Derniers, Paris, France

2003 Oil Collage Visual Aids “Postcards From The Edge” Benefit, Galerie Lelong, New York, NY

2003 Oil/mixed media paintings Porte Ouverte Espace Chateaudun, Paris, France

2003 Oil/mixed media paintings USO Group Exhibition, Paris, France

2003 Oil/mixed media paintings Solo Exhibition 131 Rue Saint Denis, Paris, France

2002 Oil paintings MagArts Exhibition, Hotel Etoille St Honore, Paris, France

2002 Oil paintings and photographs Solo Exhibition USO, Paris, France

2001 Oil paintings Group Exhibition, Hot House Gallery, Fayetteville, Arkansas

2000 Curator Hardshare Independent Film Festival, Fayetteville Arkansas

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