Recap: SupaStore Human

Sarah Staton’s SupaStore project began on the streets of London in the early 1990s and has since become an ongoing venture that has taken place at museums, galleries and alternative venues all over the world. As an artist with a long-standing history with the Dikeou Collection and zingmagazine, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to exhibit SupaStore in Denver when Staton proposed the idea last fall. Last month Staton journeyed across the Atlantic to Denver to install SupaStore Human – We are the Product at Dikeou Pop-Up: Colfax for a very rare temporary exhibition within the permanent collection. In addition to installing the project Sarah also lead a plaster casting workshop and presented an artist talk at the opening. It is always a treat to welcome a Dikeou Collection artist to Denver, and to host Sarah for a week and witness her make this project come to life was certainly one of the highlights of the year.

Collection Research Assistant Hannah Cole arranges the pages of a Culling Richards artist book and Sarah places one of her SupaScarfs. Rough cut aluminum weapons by Lito Kattou adorn the walls in the background.

Sarah’s daughter Ozziline models a painted coat by Lindsey Mendick.

A workshop where participants cast their body parts was held the night before the opening. While most people cast their hands and feet, a couple brave souls opted for the elbow and the ear. Results varied.

Scenes from SupaStore Human - We are the Product opening reception and artist talk.

Faux beard or Nicole Wermers merkin? You be the judge.

Minerva, the Roman goddess of art, trade, handicrafts and wisdom, has become the public face of the SupaStore and represents the classical origins of these now mechanized exchanges. Her spears accompany Paula Linke’s frozen summer fruit t-shirts and her shield with Steve Kado’s AGPTL: BAG.

Limited edition #DicktatorDon by Dd Davies, Ejaz Christian’s HeartFlyLove GIF, and Community Kunst playing cards by GAS.

Mouse nibbled huckleberry seeds, aka Alien Heads, by Nicola Tyson.

Ceramic foam Face Necklaces by Saelia Aparicio look good enough to eat.

Malverde Hands, plaster  hands with nails did, by Dikeou Collection’s art preparator Dmitri Obergfell.

T-shirts featuring Dikeou Superstars Lawrence Seward, Lisa Kereszi, Sarah Staton, Justin Goldwater, and Tracy Nakayama.

SupaPimp sunglasses accompanied by hand, elbow, and ear casts.

Artfully inspired cleaning brushes by Joanne Tatham and Tom O’Sullivan with Tanya Ling pink handprinted sweatshirt.

SupaLuxe cashmere throws by Sean Sullivan Saved NY. Welcome to blanket country!

If you’d like to read more about SupaStore Human - We are the Product check out Cori Anderson’s article from 303magazine and Susan Froyd’s write-up for Denver Westword!

SupaStore Human - We are the Product is one view at Dikeou Pop-Up: Colfax (312 E Colfax Ave) Wednesday through Friday 11am-5pm as well as by appointment through February 2018.

-Hayley Richardson

December 29, 2017