50 DAYS IS AN INVITATIONAL PROJECT-BASED RESIDENCY FOR ARTISTS WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE MAINSTREAM, DESIGNED AND HOSTED BY J HAMMOND PROJECTS. SOLO ARTISTS OR DUOS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT OVER A FIFTY-DAY PERIOD, DURING WHICH THEY RECEIVE A WEEKLY STIPEND, MATERIALS BUDGET AND EXPERT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. EACH RESIDENCY IS STRUCTURED AROUND A SERIES OF CAREFULLY TAILORED MENTORING SESSIONS. A FIVE-WEEK EXHIBITION OF THE ARTIST'S WORK IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS 50 DAYS.

CHRISTOPHER GRAY WAS SELECTED FOR THE INAUGURAL 50 DAYS: 10 MAY - 28 JUNE 2017

GRAY CONFRONTS THEMES OF BOXING AND FICTIONAL VIOLENCE IN MAINSTREAM CINEMA THROUGH THE MEDIUMS OF PUPPETRY, PERFORMANCE AND FILM. WORKING WITH UNUSUAL MATERIALS SUCH AS CHICKEN SKIN, HE TRANSFORMS HIS OWN HANDS BY ATTACHING PROSTHETIC LIMBS TO HIS FINGERS, REPLICATING THE HUMAN FIGURE IN MOTION. HE APPEARS IN HIS WORK AS A PUPPET MASTER, RENDERING EACH PERFORMANCE A STUDY OF THE ARTIST CREATING AN ILLUSION RATHER THAN SIMPLY A DEPICTION OF THE ILLUSION ITSELF.