August 7th to August 22nd, 2021

A souvenir spoon is a uniquely designed relic representing a person, place or historical event. Travelers often purchase them to commemorate a trip, collect them as a niche hobby, or gift them upon their return from travel. Stir Crazy involves an appropriation of a collection of souvenir spoons. Some are tarnished showing the history of ownership, while others have shiny bowls reflecting the room distorted and upside down. Each spoon that was originally a token of a popular place is cut, painted, stamped and manipulated. The newly altered spoons impose fictitious places, memories, thoughts and imagined stories.

Artist Bio: Marzieh Karimi and Ariel Mazariegos met at California State University, Northridge in 2014. Marzieh came a long way from Tehran, and Ariel, a much shorter distance from New Orleans. They both arrived in Los Angeles pursuing their MFA degree and stayed to continue exploring their artistic urges after graduating. They first grew close by lending their skills, discussing ideas and sharing their expertise. Conversations about memory, place and time — themes that characterize their artworks — led to renewed insight and an exchange of perspective. Most recently, they discovered a common interest in specific iconography like spoons and plants, as well as commercial and street signage. Their current collaboration involves an in-depth examination of one of those specific subjects.