Exhibitio Chimaerica

Air de Paris and Ben Kinmont are pleased to announce Exhibitio Chimaerica, a presentation of materials related to the antinomian Mary Everard and her family. Mary Everard (c.1637-1685) was the youngest of the True Levellers (or “Diggers” as their critics called them) about which anything is known. The True Levellers were a community of radicals who sought greater political and economic equality in mid-17th century England. They were also persecuted for their arguments against private property. Other members of Mary’s family included John Everard, the Familist and alchemist; William Everard, who attempted to assassinate Charles I; and Robert Everard, who participated in the Putney Debates.

Mary Everard was remarkable for having had visions since she was ten-years old, images which she transcribed into watercolors and designs for various globes. Later in life, after becoming a Quaker, she said that the Spirit had sent her those visions, a light for which she was but the instrument, and that the visions were a gift for her community. Interestingly, the True Levellers had difficulty accepting these art works and asked her to put the visions into verse for song (see the Thomason Collection, British Library, E.224.3).

The current exhibition includes several documents and objects coming from and about the Everard family, including an extremely rare broadside entitled Exhibitio Chimaerica; or, the True Leveller’s Cabinet Un-Earthed. Published in 1757, the work describes the discovery and contents of a pyxide containing Everard family material at Clare College, Cambridge.

Additional events have been organized in conjunction with the Air de Paris exhibition. On April 12th, at the Fondation Ricard, historian Brooke Palmieri will give a talk entitled “Printing, Pestilence, and Survival,” a look at radical political thought and archiving in 17th-century England. Palmieri’s talk will be followed by a conversation with Ben Kinmont and is presented within the larger context of Kinmont’s participation in the Paris Book Fair at the Grand Palais, April 11-14.

Ben Kinmont was born in 1963 in Vermont. He lives and works in Sebastopol, USA. Since the 90’s his sculptures and actions attempt to establish a direct, personal relationship between the artist and the viewer, using the work as a mediator. Besides, the artist earns his living with an antiquarian bookselling business about food, wine and domestic economy, considering this activity as a sculpture “the artwork is not the business itself, but the contribution to our cost of living.” Kinmont’s practice also includes conducting research and publishing work about other artists. His work has been exhibited in institutions in France and abroad. His work has been acquired by French National Library, and leading institutions such as MoMA in New York.