The initial interactive web site, "an inquiry about hair," was created by Anne Wilson in the summer of 1996 as part of an artist residency in Australia. This first project invited responses to the questions: How does it feel to lose your hair? and What does it mean to cut your hair? Responses included stories, anecdotes, personal recollections, dreams, debates, and commentary in relation to topics including age, gender, generation, culture, anthropological study, fashion, personal appearance, self image, medicine, health, daily loss, sexuality, and love. Contributors could send text, images, or sound, and indicate a name and home country, or remain anonymous.

This second web site, "hairinquiry, archived responses," features a selection from the hundreds of contributions which were received through e-mail, fax, and the post from 1996 - 1999. The original web site is no longer interactive. Thanks to the many individuals who contributed by sharing their stories, images, and insights.

Special thanks to artist Alan Koeninger who played a critical role in the development of this project over a three year period. Without his ongoing dedication and expertise, this project could never have been realized.

Thanks also to the Textiles Workshop and the Computer Aided Art Studio at the Canberra School of Art, Institute of the Arts, the Australian National University for the opportunity to create the initial web site as part of an artist residency in 1996. Much appreciation also for the shorter 1996 residency opportunity at the University of Wollongong, and the assistance of artists Ali Smith and Sandy Indlekofer-O'Sullivan. These residencies and extended projects were also partially supported by a faculty enrichment grant from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago; a grant from the Chicago Artists International Program of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, United States Information Service, and United Airlines and Lufthansa German Airlines; and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

"Told and Retold: an inquiry about hair" is a physical sound installation by Anne Wilson and A.B. Forster extending from the web site research. This collaborative installation was presented in both New York and Detroit in the fall of 1998, and was also presented at The Museum for Textiles Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, in the spring of 1999. To inquire about the catalog, please fax (416) 599-2911.

Anne Wilson
Email: contact@annewilsonartist.com

Copyright (c) 2000, Anne Wilson