ELIZABETH
BARENIS
3D/Installation/Performance Art
Twilight Lagoon
Immersive Art Installation, Clearwater Free Clinic Annual Fundraiser, 2022
I worked in collaboration with Brandy Stark to design and install an immersive art experience of a magical lagoon, through which attendees walked upon arrival at the fundraising event "Martinis and Matisse." For the project, I created ten large illuminated flowers, one giant twinkling rose, a star-shaped chandelier, and an internally-illuminated flamingo sculpture.
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Nighttime Everglades Adventure
Diorama for the Fairgrounds Immersive Art Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2021
As an inaugural artist of the Fairgrounds St. Pete, I created this Everglades-themed diorama, which features a star-lit night sky reflected in a pond that is surrounded by an alligator, a suitcase, and an open birdcage. Above, a free bird hovers in its escape. The 14"x20"x16" diorama suggests a feeling of mystery and suspense.
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Banksy's Girl Celebrates Return
Interactive Piece for the Creative Pinellas Arts Annual 2018
This piece is a playful commentary of the incident which occurred at Sotheby's on October 18, 2018 in which the Banksy painting "Girl with Balloon" shredded itself just after it sold for 1.4 million. A metal call bell is mounted alongside the 48"x60" painting with a sign instructing viewers to "Ring Bell to Celebrate." Each time the bell is rung, I come from around the corner and toss shredded paper confetti into the air.
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Freebird: Transcendence
2020 Installation with video projection, stretched canvas, found objects, and sound
Click HERE to see more details and videos.
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Freebird: Capture
Interactive Installation
Nicknamed Puddy Tat, this 8-foot tall walk-through installation houses soft fabrics and textures. The loud vibrational sound of a cat's purring reverberates from within the housing. Because a cat purrs at the same vibration as that used in Whole Body Healing, participants may find a feeling of relief and safety as they enjoy a few moments inside the "cat." Once inside, look upward to find a small illumination in the otherwise dark vault - it's the freebird inside his locked cage. He's been caught. Lucky cat.
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Freebird: Transformation
This 2020 installation features three hand-sewn fabric bird figures displayed on a voile scroll. The lower two birds have painted palm frond "wings." Because the bird is in a state of transformation, as he raises his wings to fly it becomes clear that he doesn't need wings to fly and that the "cage" he imagined all along was just a shadow cast upon him.
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Freebird: The Shadow of Your Smile
Interactive Piece originally shown at the 2012 Toys Designed By Artists exhibit at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock.
Viewers are encouraged to wind the music box and enjoy the music while the bird rotates and casts a shadow of its flapping wings.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXrmF174HtI
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Freebird Lamp
Lamp composed of over 50% reused/recycled materials
Sold in silent auction for Keep Little Rock Beautiful, 2013.
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Freebird Window
Internally-illuminated lamp featuring a bird who has escaped
Created with my father circa 2005.
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