Axle Contemporary
a mobile artspace based in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Artifacts from the Boys Room
Erika Wanenmacher
In this exhibition, Wanenmacher investigates The Human Radiation Experiments that occurred in the United States from the 1940's through the 1970's. The experiments were conducted without informed consent on many of society's most vulnerable-the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, and children.
"The Science Club" refers to an experiment that happened in a Massachusetts home for developmentally disabled children. Boys were fed oatmeal and milk that contained radioactive particles, in order to track the effectiveness of added vitamins. To encourage the boys to participate, the scientist called the experiment "The Science Club".
"The Boy's Room" refers to an experiment at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in which doctors used their own children and children in the community in radioactive tracer experiments.
During the run of the exhibition, the exhibited objects will be sold through a silent auction process. Bidding can be done at the mobile gallery or by contacting the gallery atinfo@axleart.com or by telephone at 505-670-5854 or 505-670-7612. Photos of the objects are below. Bidding ends at 8pm on Sunday July 29th.
All proceeds from sales will support the work of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Nuke Watch, The Los Alamos Study Group, and Axle Contemporary.
This show is made of artifacts from the show "The Science Club: The Boy's Room" that was at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in 2008.
Article in the Santa Fe Reporter about this show here
Article in the Pasatiempo here
Schedule / Locations
Opening
Tuesday, July 24
5-7pm, Railyard Shade Structure by Farmers Market
Wednesday, July 25
6-8 pm Plaza Bandstand Concert
Thursday, July 26
11-2, La Montañita Co-op
Friday July, 27
5–8 pm, Railyard by Farmers Market/SITE Santa Fe
Saturday, July 28
morning in front of SITE/Farmers Market afternoon on Canyon Rd.
Swan Park Concert 6-8pm
Sunday, July 29
Canyon Road 12-3 &
Closing Event & Final Auction Bidding, 5-8, Phil Space, 1410 2nd street
The following photographs represent items available for the silent auction. Call 505-670-5854 or 505-670-7612 for more information on the items, current bid price, or to place a bid. Or stop by the gallery in person. Final bidding will take place at Phil Space on Sunday, July 29th from 5-8pm.
 Video in alu cabinet w/tv tray setupSingle channel video installation in vintage aluminum monitoring station with vintage TV tray setup (with sandwich, engraved vintage spoon, glow-in-the-dark juice vintage plate Einstein atomic spoon, rocket astronaut space plate), and stool MINIMUM BID: $1,500 |  Chemical SetVintage Gilbert Chemical Set box with hand-blown lab-ware by Stacey Neff MINIMUM BID: $40 CURRENT BID: $75 |  Atomic Children’s PajamasChildren’s Pajamas, hand printed fabric hand-printed & hand-sewn MINIMUM BID: $150 |
|---|---|---|
 Black Raven Record/ZoetropeVintage record player with handmade Black Raven record with zoetrope-style viewer with hand-painted hand/skeleton animation (based on Vintage Red Raven series) MINIMUM BID: $400 CURRENT BID: $400 |  Boy’s Science ProjectBoy’s Science Project: Box with artist-modified found Oriole nest with painting, text, and safety glass. MINIMUM BID: $100 CURRENT BID: $120 |  Hallicrafters ham radioVintage Hallicrafters ham radio (gutted) with mp3 player and audio loop (comes with vintage microphone, headphones, and manuals) MINIMUM BID: $40 CURRENT BID $40 |
 Safety TruckHand-painted vintage toy safety truck MINIMUM BID: $30 |  Atomic QuiltHand-appliquéd and hand-quilted atomic coverlet (twin size) MINIMUM BID: $300 |  TRINITYTRINITY: Atomic blast paint-by-numbers portrait fabricated and painted by the artist from archival blast photo MINIMUM BID: $30 CURRENT BID $30 |
 BAKERBAKER: Atomic blast paint-by-numbers portrait fabricated and painted by the artist from archival blast photo MINIMUM BID: $30 CURRENT BID: $30 |  PRISCILLAPRISCILLA: Atomic blast paint-by-numbers portrait fabricated and painted by the artist from archival blast photo MINIMUM BID: $40 |  NAGASAKINAGASAKI: Atomic blast paint-by-numbers portrait fabricated and painted by the artist from archival blast photo MINIMUM BID: $60 |
 HIROSHIMAHIROSHIMA: Atomic blast paint-by-numbers portrait fabricated and painted by the artist from archival blast photo MINIMUM BID: $60 |  X-Ray LampVintage cholla stagecoach lamp with custom x-ray shade MINIMUM BID: $50 |  Black butterflies (small)Black butterflies (small) MINIMUM BID: $15 CURRENT BID: $65 |
 Black butterflies (medium)Black butterflies (medium) MINIMUM BID: $30 CURRENT BID: $125 |  Black butterflies (large)Black butterflies (large) MINIMUM BID: $50 CURRENT BID: $50 |  Hand-printed atomic curtainsHand-printed atomic curtains MINIMUM BID: $15 CURRENT BID: $15 |
 Child’s gas maskChild’s gas mask, vintage MINIMUM BID: $30 |  Vintage Blast GogglesVintage Blast Goggles MINIMUM BID: $25 |  Rocket Launcher Erector SetRocket Launcher erector set, vintage MINIMUM BID: $40 |
 Code Control BoxCode control box, vintage MINIMUM BID: $20 |  Cap GunCap Gun, vintage MINIMUM BID: $10 |  PATRIOT sneakersPATRIOT sneakers, vintage (new dead stock) MINIMUM BID: $20 |
 Green Hornet model kitGreen Hornet model kit, altered MINIMUM BID: $8 |  Blackened sand paintingBlackened sand painting MINIMUM BID: $5 |  Davy Crockett Weapon SystemDavy Crockett Weapon System, hand-held field nuclear weapon, vintage print MINIMUM BID: $10 |
 Hound-DogHound-dog 1960’s nuclear missile, vintage print MINIMUM BID: $10 |  SuperboySuperboy, altered vintage comic book MINIMUM BID: $10 |  MAD MagazineMAD Magazine, altered vintage magazine MINIMUM BID: $10 |
 Atomic Energy, Merit Badge SeriesAtomic Energy, Merit Badge Series, altered vintage Boy Scout manual MINIMUM BID: $4 CURRENT BID: $10 |  Radio, Merit Badge SeriesRadio, Merit Badge Series, altered vintage Boy Scout manual MINIMUM BID: $4 |  The Family Fallout ShelterThe Family Fallout Shelter, vintage brochure MINIMUM BID: $6 |
 Survival in a Nuclear AttackSurvival in a Nuclear Attack, altered vintage brochure MINIMUM BID: $6 |  Your Body and RadiationYour Body and Radiation, vintage brochure MINIMUM BID: $6 |  Radio Isotopes in MedicineRadio Isotopes in Medicine, vintage brochure MINIMUM BID: $4 |
 Survival Under Atomic AttackSurvival Under Atomic Attack, vintage brochure MINIMUM BID: $5 |  Nature’s Invisible RaysNature’s Invisible Rays, altered vintage brochure MINIMUM BID: $4 |  North Peninsula Electronics ClubNorth Peninsula Electronics Club, altered postcard MINIMUM BID: $1 |
 K8NXNK8NXN, altered ham radio postcard MINIMUM BID: $1 |  WA7ACQWA7ACQ, altered ham radio postcard MINIMUM BID: $1 |  Boeing Employee Amateur Radio SocietBoeing Employee Amateur Radio Society, altered postcard MINIMUM BID: $1 |
 Installation in the gallery |  Installation in the gallery |  Installation in the gallery |