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Aria McManus

@ariamcmanus

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Founder @therealtowelkini
CAPT/COACH @downtowngirlsbball

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Aria McManus (Based in NYC)

You appear to be very clever on invention, if you were to build out a sixth sense, in addition to the five basic human senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, what comes to mind?

Well I do believe we all have a 6th sense of intuition already. A gift of knowing before knowing. And to add to that I would wish for the impeccable gift of perfect or lucky timing, being in the right place at the right time.

What is the story around your Towelkini?

Well it was first created and shown at off site show during Miami art basel many years ago. Then I worked with the project space Special Special to do a limited production run of the Towelkini for purchase. Those were for sale and then the very next summer it was picked up by a uk tabloid as the “item of the summer” and from there a press frenzy started and it spread everywhere from Fox News to the today show. After a few months the tv show Shark Tank reached out and asked me to pitch it to the “Sharks” to invest in the business. So I followed suit and went on the show, only to find out a week before Covid lock down that my segment wouldn’t be airing (they film 2x as many as they air).

Obviously disappointed, I soon decided to film my own reenactment based on my memory and splice myself into my own episode. This reenactment video was then featured at my show at Entrance gallery. In all I felt like the project was and is a sort of a back and forth conversation between the media and art. Separately I also made a towelkini pool float.

Is it true that you are a coach and captain of a basketball team, what’s that like?

Yes I created Downtown Girls Basketball maybe it’s been like 13 years ago now? It’s a pick up league for women or non binary people who are not necessarily good at basketball. We just play eachother and just play for fun. It’s been so fun to organize and be loose with rules while creating community in a non competitive way. And for myself it’s where I also allow myself to have low stakes and freedom to just play, no one who comes has to learn anything or get better they just get to participate. by @ariamcmanus

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3 months ago

Grief Glasses showing tonight at #mothership in Woodstock. Added an early prototype and inspo drawing by #nikkidesaintphalle taken in Mothership Gallery in Woodstock. N Y by @ariamcmanus

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4 months ago

Today marks 2 months since my dad’s celebration of life on 1-24-26. For the service I made one of my creations— a Kleenex funeral wreath, as I was ordering it at the flower shop I looked though my old sketches for a reference of what I wanted, only to realize I had drawn the original idea exactly 10 years ago to the day of his service. Felt like a wink from him. 🤍miss ya dad. by @ariamcmanus

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7 months ago

Last week we lost my wonderful funny dad after a 4 year battle with cancer. This video is exactly what he was like (watch till the end.) Miss you dad 🤍 by @ariamcmanus

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10 months ago

Basketball Lazy Susan for an on theme game day snack tray ft. In @goodsport_magazine #ariaideas #inventions #basketball by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

Video playing Gold Medal for watching your victory on loop #ariaideas #olympics concept art for @goodsport_magazine #inventions by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

Salad Mixing Soccer ball for @goodsport_magazine. Drizzle your dressing then dribble your ball #ariaideas #salad by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

NEW WORK in @goodsport_magazine. I created a series of sport “PROPS.” This one is a self explanatory hockey stick broom. #ariaideas #inventions by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

Olive Oil Snow Globe with red pepper flakes #ariaideas #merrychristmas by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

Last week to see #virtuallyblessed @jackhanleygallery featuring virtually blessed water, alongside the blessed cards, legal documents for the “Congregation of the Virtually Blessed” are framed on the wall—paperwork to be filed to form a tax exempt religious organization. With these documents, the line between commercial transaction and religious experience is further blurred, inviting a reevaluation of our approach to both consumerism and faith. This organization offers a platform for future experimentation in the benefits and limitations of the legal system. taken in Jack Hanley Gallery by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

Virtually Blessed Cards on view through May 25th @jackhanleygallery. 10 pre-loaded debit cards individually representing a different top 10 popular religions in the US, are on display. These functional debit cards serve as symbols of consumerism and transactionalism, yet they also carry a deeper, intangible value bestowed upon them through the act of their blessing. The blessing imbues not only the cards themselves but also the future transactions made with them, creating a ripple effect of spiritual significance. #virtuallyblessed #ariaideas taken in Jack Hanley Gallery by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago

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Salón ACME No. 11⁠
8-11 FEB 2024⁠
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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔⁠
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Aria Mcmanus⁠
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𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘭ó𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘎𝘈𝘙- 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘥𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢çã𝘰 𝘈𝘳𝘵í𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢, (@hangar_cia ) 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘪𝘯 2024.⁠
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Drawing on her background in critical product design, McManus probes the intersection of innovation, perception, and utility in contemporary culture. By using and manipulating and making enhancements of common, utilitarian objects, McManus plays with the viewer’s expectations in order to explore functions and its potential to complicate the notion of utility itself. Using familiar tools of capitalism: Advertisements, commercials, and patent paperwork coalesce around objects, the lines are blurred the line between product and art object, which reconceptualizes the role of value in contemporary art. Aria McManus (b. 1989 USA) Her work has been exhibited in various solo and group shows, including at, Entrance Gallery, Fisher Parrish, the New Museum (all New York), AALA Gallery, Ed Varie (Los Angeles), and Biennale Internationale Design (Saint-Etienne, France). Aria has been an artist in residence at Silver Arts at the World Trade Center in New York. Aria is a founding member of Auto Body, a curatorial collective based in Bellport, Long Island.⁠
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Work selected thorough our open call:⁠
𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮⁠
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The ‘Infinite Filter Pitcher’ seamlessly merges a filtering water pitcher with the graceful presence of a fountain, giving rise to an unending cycle of purified water. This sculpture transforms the act of drinking water into a perpetual purification ritual, orchestrated by the mechanics of the fountain. Within this piece, it sheds light on our shared inclination to filter and commodify water, all the while reveling in its innate beauty and indispensable nourishing properties.⁠
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#salonacme #salonacme11 #convocatoria11 #AriaMcmanus @ariamcmanus ⁠
#contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #artexhibition #exhibition ⁠
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⁠ by @ariamcmanus

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2 years ago