A Stitch in Time: Common Sense at testsite [Art Review]

One of the houses that is tucked away in a mostly residential neighborhood a few blocks from Amy's Ice Cream and Wheatsville is home to testsite, a hidden powerhouse in the world of contemporary art. The private residence of Laurence Miller was transformed in 2003 when he opened it as an experimental art space for exhibitions, open studios, and artist residency. Home to Austin's Fluent~Collaborative and ...might be good, a non-profit and contemporary art e-journal respectively, testsite brings together one writer and one visual artist to collaborate on a quarterly project that includes a exhibition and publication.

The most recent project facilitated by testsite is Common Sense, a collaboration between venerable New York artist, Sheila Pepe, and curator of Arthouse at the Jones Center, Elizabeth Dunbar. Common Sense is an interactive installation of crocheted "networks" of yarn created by Pepe, who, throughout the show's duration, encourages visitors to deconstruct her art and incorporate her materials into their personal projects. When it was first assembled in late May, two main webs engulfed the living room and dining room of testsite in shades of green and orange. After a few open knitting sessions, the installation has no doubt changed; the exhibit's closing reception and final knitting workshop will be held this Sunday from noon-6pm. At 1pm, Jade Walker, an artist and UT Art Department Lecturer, will present "Craft Stimulus" an artist discussion focusing on local, craft based artists. At 5pm, musician Lisa Cameron will also be performing an ongoing experimental music project, Venision Whirled, as part of a collaboration between the gallery space and the Church of the Friendly Ghost.