Elijah Wheat Showroom is delighted to present a solo exhibition by Johannah Herr entitled, “Patenting Distraction” opening Saturday, September 15 from 7pm-10pm.

The work is a series of vinyl drawings based on Directed-Energy Weapons— weapons that use beams of highly focused energy waves (such as sound or light) to incapacitate a target. These types of weapons are used in various capacities by US military and police for crowd control during rallies, protests and public gatherings.

Behind the works on display, the gallery will be transformed with vinyl wallpaper that deliberately initiates a Moirré effect. The diagram-based panels overtly and subliminally display deeply researched US government issued patents.

‘Incapacitation through visual and sonic overload’ is allegorical for both current political discourse and rampant consumerism. Herr aims to critically engage power structures that distract citizens into complacency. Or alternatively, fatigue their resistance into compliance. The ‘Figure’ of each diagram corresponds to mainstream American ideology while the labeling of the diagrams’ components corresponds to the historical contexts of power and exploitation. Exposing the myths that underlie and obfuscate these ideological tropes.

The viewer is drawn in by holographic and metallic sign materials while becoming dazzled by optical and patterned backdrops.  As a result, the drawings are hard to look at, just as it has become difficult to ground oneself within a world constructed by spectacular government and corporate manipulation.

Exhibition runs through October 28th                           

Johannah Herr (b. 1987 Lancaster, PA) is a Brooklyn-based multimedia artist. Since earning her MFA in Sculpture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2016 and her BFA in Fine Art from the Parsons School of Design in 2009, she has explored the “role spectacle plays in contemporary digital media to shape our perspectives, voyeuristically entertain, and simultaneously remove us from, and implicate us in, the trauma of world events.” This is her first solo exhibition at Elijah Wheat Showroom, however also has work in last year’s “Moll Madness” show and will be one of the 20 artists representing the gallery at The Anti Art Fair in London, October 4-7th, 2018. She has had solo exhibitions at Envoy Enterprises in New York, Galleri Metropol in Estonia, and Red Ger Gallery in Mongolia. She has shown in numerous locations throughout New York City as well as in Bulgaria, Berlin, London, Italy, Israel, Reykjavik and Mexico City. She is an upcoming resident at Alfred University’s Institute for Electronic Arts in 2018. She has held residencies at Wassaic Project in Wassaic New York in 2018, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City in 2017, and was a fellow at the Oxbow School of Art in Michigan in 2016. She is currently faculty at Parsons School of Design.

Johannah Herr (b. 1987 Lancaster, PA) is a Brooklyn-based multimedia artist. Since earning her MFA in Sculpture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2016 and her BFA in Fine Art from the Parsons School of Design in 2009, she has explored the “role spectacle plays in contemporary digital media to shape our perspectives, voyeuristically entertain, and simultaneously remove us from, and implicate us in, the trauma of world events.” This is her first solo exhibition at Elijah Wheat Showroom, however also has work in last year’s “Moll Madness” show and will be one of the 20 artists representing the gallery at The Anti Art Fair in London, October 4-7th, 2018. She has had solo exhibitions at Envoy Enterprises in New York, Galleri Metropol in Estonia, and Red Ger Gallery in Mongolia. She has shown in numerous locations throughout New York City as well as in Bulgaria, Berlin, London, Italy, Israel, Reykjavik and Mexico City. She is an upcoming resident at Alfred University’s Institute for Electronic Arts in 2018. She has held residencies at Wassaic Project in Wassaic New York in 2018, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City in 2017, and was a fellow at the Oxbow School of Art in Michigan in 2016. She is currently faculty at Parsons School of Design.