Unveiling the artistic process can provide a generous look behind the scenes to viewers, humanizing the experience of creating. “Manual GRAFT’s” experimental format, challenges the structural procedures presumed for gallery display. Manual GRAFT is an extension of Edra Soto’s ongoing architectural intervention project titled GRAFT. For Rapid Pulse, Manual GRAFT will arrive via performative gestures. A process based experience will unfold in front of the audience during this presentation.

EDRA SOTO (CHICAGO) is a Chicago-based artist, educator, curator, and gallery director. She obtained her Master of Fine Arts degree at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2000, as well as attending Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Beta-Local in Puerto Rico, and most recently the Robert Rauschenberg Residency Program in Captiva, Florida though a 3Arts Fellowship. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Some of her latest presentations include: The Elmhurst Art Museum Biennial, The 4th Poly/Graphic Triennial of San Juan and the Caribbean and the co-curation of the exhibition Present Standard, at the Chicago Cultural Center with overwhelmingly positive reviews from the Chicago Tribune, Newcity and Artforum.

With her husband Dan Sullivan, she designed and fabricated THE FRANKLIN, an outdoor project space that they co-direct. This project has been supported by the 3Arts Foundation, Northeastern Illinois University and the Propeller Fund. Soto and Sullivan received a commission from the Chicago Transit Authority, and her GRAFT project will be featured at the Western Avenue stop on the train line to O’Hare Airport. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally.