Steam Work

About

Steam Work is Michael Parker’s first solo exhibition north of Los Angeles. At its core is Steam Egg 2, a mirrored sculpture housing a fully-functioning sauna. Steam Egg 2 is accompanied by suspended cascading cold rinse pools, wet and messy seating, and redwood and ceramic hydration stations built by the artist.

Michael Parker’s first solo exhibition north of Los Angeles, Steam Work, includes Steam Egg 2, a mirrored sculpture housing a fully-functioning sauna, accompanied by suspended cascading cold rinse pools, wet and messy seating, and redwood and ceramic hydration stations built by the artist.

Steam Work is open to view during gallery hours, and the Steam Egg will be fully operational on Thursday and Saturday evenings from 5:00 – 8:00 PM during the run of the exhibition. Bring your own towel, robe, and swimsuit. Bathrooms and drinking water are provided. Visitors are encouraged to steam in rounds. Visitors must be able to kneel and climb in order to steam, and will be asked to sign a liability waiver.

Steam and Sound Nights
Saturdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27 & March 5, 12, 19
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Saturday steams will be accompanied by a program of sound artists, DJs, and HerbJs curated by Michael Parker and Valerie Imus. Collaborators include Ashley Bellouin, Alyse Emdur, Wesley Hicks, and Laura Steenberge. RSVP at www.steamwork.eventbrite.com. 

Drop-in Steam Nights
Thursdays, February 11, 18, 25 & March 3, 10, 17
5:00 – 8:00 PM
On Thursday evenings, walk-ins are welcome, but first come, first steam. 

Michael Parker is a Los Angeles-based artist who makes sculpture, installation and group experiences. His projects are often formed through research and engagement within various social groups. Parker’s Tuesday Steams, based out of his Los Angeles studio since 2011, bring together diverse groups of artists for communal sauna evenings.

Parker received a BA from Pomona College and an MFA from the University of Southern California. He teaches sculpture at California State University, Long Beach. Recent projects include Juicework at Human Resources and The Unfinished along the LA River at The Bowtie Project. He has been included in exhibitions, performances and screenings at the Pomona College Museum of Art, The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, Human Resources, the Center for Land Use Interpretation, The Bowtie Project, Control Room, and High Desert Test Sites. He is a recipient of the 2015 California Community Foundation Fellowship.