ABOVE THE RIM

ABOVE THE RIM
AT CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, RALEIGH

In 2018, minutes from the North Carolina hometown and college locale of Michael Jordan, we assisted guest curator Phil America with his basketball art retrospective at CAM Raleigh. A functional, immersive art installation titled Above the Rim, the show wrapped up as the NBA All-Star Game took place in nearby Charlotte.

In addition to the interactive 3-on-3, site-specific halfcourt by Felipe Pantone and soundscape by Eren Cannata, Above the Rim featured 16 internationally renowned artists that use various mediums to communicate their message through the lens of basketball.

The museum, transformed into a wildly colorful and immersive artwork, merged form and function into a setting that is at once fine art and a youth meeting point. Visitors were encouraged to play on the court, with racks of basketballs provided. The exhibit aimed to cross lines of race and class in America with the sheer joy and energy that the game inspires, and a diverse slate of artists and programs did just that.

Our main contribution was bringing sponsor Upper Deck to the exhibit, who built an historic display of autographed memoribilia from Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, and many other NBA stars. See more on the exhibit at CAM Raleigh’s project page or in Juxtapoz Magazine.