Project Overview
This work is an investigation into the idea of accumulation- under this ruberic there will be 12 proposed installations and exhibitions in locations around the United States and Europe, with future exhibitions to be determined. Projects will include investigations into American multinational companies, research on piles of used and unused goods (formally, and for use in further paintings and drawings), investigations of land use, and the moral implications of hoarding and accumulatiing. Final projects have ranged from one-time installations to more traditional displays of works on paper, to collaborative efforts and actions.
To date, the project has produced 12 prospective installations:
Accumulation #1 (you know us better than you think)
Venice, Italy: Galleria il Sotoportego June 2005
Focusing on the work of Charles and David Koch, owners of the second largest private company in the United States, I will use their business model/ corporate philosophy as metaphor for our own moments of dishonesty and hoarding. I will contrast images of the Koch brothers and their businesses with images and sculptural elements depicting piles, heaps, etc. Final pieces will be in collograph, silkscreen, drawings, and paintings, all on paper.
Accumulation # 2 (piles)
Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Atelier Toos Neger Sept. 2005
An investigation documenting the physical nature of piles, in particular the stacking and heaping of used and unused goods. Photographs and drawings will be used in conjunction with actual piles within the gallery space. All work will be made during a residency through the month of September and wil be displayed at the end of that month.
Accumulation #3 (no news is good news)
Baltimore, Maryland, USA: Spare Room Gallery Winter 2005-06
I am taking advantage of the domestic setting in this exhibition and focus on the idea of personal consumption, in particular of the news, the bits and fragments absorbed each day. Pending installation time, I would like to gather local newspapers each day and crumple sheets into a pile in the center of the room, eventually reaching the ceiling and leaving a walkway along the outside perimater of the room. As the pile grows, I would pick out a sheet at random and press is flat, pick a story and illustrate it in ink on the sheet. Ideally I would have several weeks of newspapers with which to work, and if possible, enough to begin filling the entire room. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #4 (leftovers)
Wendover, Utah, USA: Center for Land Use Interpretation Spring 2006
Residency and exhibition that will focus on the economic divide between the casino-driven economy of the Nevada side and the depressed Utah side. I will examine the modifications and permutations in the physical use of the land itself, which is constantly moved, shifted, covered, farmed, piled up, dug out, etc, to suit the immediate and economic needs of different groups of people. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #5 (scars)
Youngstown, Ohio, USA: McDonough Museum of Art 2006
Returning to my hometown, I would like to focus on the 25 miles of unusable land where the steel mills were located, mills that made the town and have also rendered the city unable to create new industry and which has been in decline since. Exhibition would be based on research focused on the physicalness of the decay, with interviews with current and former residents of the city. Final, physical form of the exhibtion would likely include a new body of paintings and drawings along with text elements and source photography. Possibly linked to a project with the CLUI, re: Accumulation #4, and a final book project. (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #6 (reflecting spaces)
Marfa, Texas, USA: Chinati Foundation Summer-Fall 2006
Relate it in some way to the past history of the project, by this point a self-history, and minimal art as piles, perhaps hinting at the ease at which a number of objects can create visual stimulation. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #7 (collection)
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA: McColl Center for the Arts, Fall 2006-Spring 2007
An exploration into the dynamics of the private collection- I want to exhibit objects from each memeber of my family that have collected something- my father (stamps), my mother (bells, trolls) my sister (giraffes), myself (baseball cards, coins from vacation), and also have a research component with the brothers who just donated their comics to Duke University. Contrast with images of these objects in groups. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #8 (excavation)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: Mattress Factory 2006-07
City as a pile? Still thinking this one through...
Accumulation #9 (hub)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Soap Factory May-Oct. 2006
The focus for this exhibition will be the idea of the transprtation of stuff- of information, goods, garbage, people, etc. In particular, I want to deal with then idea of Minneapolis as a hub, as the main metropolitan area in Minnesota and the upper midwest (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #10 (cheese)
Rochester, New York, USA: Visual Studies Workshop 2006-07
Something with kodak, or just about the proliferation of random photographs of stuff- can it be an open call, to a number of people, to submit a minimum of 10 and a maximum of whatever of printed images? Maybe collaborate with Mary, as a contact point in the city? Making collection points in good spots in the city and outside of it- coming up with some sort of system to catalogue the photos. Maybe have access to the web in the exhibition space, or some sort of way of cataloging them on the web, becoming more in the scanning or photographing of the photos. Exchange of photos- eveyrone i can think of sends in 10 or 20, then i return to them a random 10 or 20. (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #11 (moving)
York, Alabama, USA; Municipal Workshop 2007
Perhaps a colleborative effort to solve a problem identified by the workshop, in the storage and moving of accumulated stuff, bringing the information and images and what practical knowledge I have to their endeavor. (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #12 (archive)
Rome, Italy; the American Acedemy in Rome 2007-08
This will be an exploration into the dynamics of public collections, in libraries, museums, archives, etc. This will include information from research conducted throughout the first 10 accumulations, and intended to be displayed as a collection of this information, including textual, printed, visual and aural information. (exhibitions as accumulations?) (no proposal submitted as of April)
For successive exhibitons, an archive will be kept and made available. This can include images formed into a catalog, along with explanatory text. The final project (in this case, Accumulation #12) would be a book containing images and text of the book, and also made available on the website.
Each proposal for each location is specifc to that location and if rejected by the supporting institution, will not be reassigned to another place. These projects are related serially and variations may appear within each. As the first exhibition has yet to take place, there is a limit to how far ahead I can plan- however, I intend to stick as closely to proposals as I can.
To date, the project has produced 12 prospective installations:
Accumulation #1 (you know us better than you think)
Venice, Italy: Galleria il Sotoportego June 2005
Focusing on the work of Charles and David Koch, owners of the second largest private company in the United States, I will use their business model/ corporate philosophy as metaphor for our own moments of dishonesty and hoarding. I will contrast images of the Koch brothers and their businesses with images and sculptural elements depicting piles, heaps, etc. Final pieces will be in collograph, silkscreen, drawings, and paintings, all on paper.
Accumulation # 2 (piles)
Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Atelier Toos Neger Sept. 2005
An investigation documenting the physical nature of piles, in particular the stacking and heaping of used and unused goods. Photographs and drawings will be used in conjunction with actual piles within the gallery space. All work will be made during a residency through the month of September and wil be displayed at the end of that month.
Accumulation #3 (no news is good news)
Baltimore, Maryland, USA: Spare Room Gallery Winter 2005-06
I am taking advantage of the domestic setting in this exhibition and focus on the idea of personal consumption, in particular of the news, the bits and fragments absorbed each day. Pending installation time, I would like to gather local newspapers each day and crumple sheets into a pile in the center of the room, eventually reaching the ceiling and leaving a walkway along the outside perimater of the room. As the pile grows, I would pick out a sheet at random and press is flat, pick a story and illustrate it in ink on the sheet. Ideally I would have several weeks of newspapers with which to work, and if possible, enough to begin filling the entire room. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #4 (leftovers)
Wendover, Utah, USA: Center for Land Use Interpretation Spring 2006
Residency and exhibition that will focus on the economic divide between the casino-driven economy of the Nevada side and the depressed Utah side. I will examine the modifications and permutations in the physical use of the land itself, which is constantly moved, shifted, covered, farmed, piled up, dug out, etc, to suit the immediate and economic needs of different groups of people. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #5 (scars)
Youngstown, Ohio, USA: McDonough Museum of Art 2006
Returning to my hometown, I would like to focus on the 25 miles of unusable land where the steel mills were located, mills that made the town and have also rendered the city unable to create new industry and which has been in decline since. Exhibition would be based on research focused on the physicalness of the decay, with interviews with current and former residents of the city. Final, physical form of the exhibtion would likely include a new body of paintings and drawings along with text elements and source photography. Possibly linked to a project with the CLUI, re: Accumulation #4, and a final book project. (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #6 (reflecting spaces)
Marfa, Texas, USA: Chinati Foundation Summer-Fall 2006
Relate it in some way to the past history of the project, by this point a self-history, and minimal art as piles, perhaps hinting at the ease at which a number of objects can create visual stimulation. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #7 (collection)
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA: McColl Center for the Arts, Fall 2006-Spring 2007
An exploration into the dynamics of the private collection- I want to exhibit objects from each memeber of my family that have collected something- my father (stamps), my mother (bells, trolls) my sister (giraffes), myself (baseball cards, coins from vacation), and also have a research component with the brothers who just donated their comics to Duke University. Contrast with images of these objects in groups. (proposal pending)
Accumulation #8 (excavation)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: Mattress Factory 2006-07
City as a pile? Still thinking this one through...
Accumulation #9 (hub)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Soap Factory May-Oct. 2006
The focus for this exhibition will be the idea of the transprtation of stuff- of information, goods, garbage, people, etc. In particular, I want to deal with then idea of Minneapolis as a hub, as the main metropolitan area in Minnesota and the upper midwest (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #10 (cheese)
Rochester, New York, USA: Visual Studies Workshop 2006-07
Something with kodak, or just about the proliferation of random photographs of stuff- can it be an open call, to a number of people, to submit a minimum of 10 and a maximum of whatever of printed images? Maybe collaborate with Mary, as a contact point in the city? Making collection points in good spots in the city and outside of it- coming up with some sort of system to catalogue the photos. Maybe have access to the web in the exhibition space, or some sort of way of cataloging them on the web, becoming more in the scanning or photographing of the photos. Exchange of photos- eveyrone i can think of sends in 10 or 20, then i return to them a random 10 or 20. (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #11 (moving)
York, Alabama, USA; Municipal Workshop 2007
Perhaps a colleborative effort to solve a problem identified by the workshop, in the storage and moving of accumulated stuff, bringing the information and images and what practical knowledge I have to their endeavor. (no proposal submitted as of April)
Accumulation #12 (archive)
Rome, Italy; the American Acedemy in Rome 2007-08
This will be an exploration into the dynamics of public collections, in libraries, museums, archives, etc. This will include information from research conducted throughout the first 10 accumulations, and intended to be displayed as a collection of this information, including textual, printed, visual and aural information. (exhibitions as accumulations?) (no proposal submitted as of April)
For successive exhibitons, an archive will be kept and made available. This can include images formed into a catalog, along with explanatory text. The final project (in this case, Accumulation #12) would be a book containing images and text of the book, and also made available on the website.
Each proposal for each location is specifc to that location and if rejected by the supporting institution, will not be reassigned to another place. These projects are related serially and variations may appear within each. As the first exhibition has yet to take place, there is a limit to how far ahead I can plan- however, I intend to stick as closely to proposals as I can.
posted by Lou at 9:27 PM
2 Comments:
Lou,
I've just had a chance to read through the project overview, which I find fascinating (what else I find fascinating is the willingness of someone to commit that much time to a single--though infinitely multifaceted--concept.) And in it, I am drawn to a reflection. Often, in the evening, there is a show on Food TV called "Unwrapped." If you are unfamiliar with it, it basically highlights a food concept (easter candy, pizza, hot sauce, etc, etc) goes to various producers of said item, gives a history and what not. In every episode, in every segment, invariably they discuss the quantity of the product produced (100 million marshmellow Peeps per day, we use 100 tons of potatoes a day, etc) and it is always meant to impress the viewer. Apparently this is a good thing. And while I will in fairness admit, yes the numbers are staggering, I find that I am always absolutely repulsed by this. I mean, honestly, of the huge amount of resources that are used to create these food products, many of which will inevitably pass their expiration date and amount to waste...it is far more disgusting than impressive. This is what I was thinking of looking at the overview. As I type this I am aware of my own trends toward accumulation. Books, cds, original art. I love to have books around me. I can't help it, I can't explain it, but I need them. Cds...copies just don't cut it. I may someday get an ipod or equivalent for portable convenience, but the product itself is still oddly important to me. why? And original art. I value the works you have given me (yours and Micah's) far more than anything I have ever bought. I have a painting by drew (www.toothpastefordinner.com) and a cool drawing I picked up in Key West, and these originals...where you can see and feel the actual work...I have a real love for original art work...where you can still connect with the work. Interesting.
But day to day a lot of it comes back to the "Unwrapped" idea. Day in and day out I deal with Corporations in one way or another. What happened with this corps earnings? Why? What was the new housing start data, the consumer price index, the fact that one jackass with one dumb opinion ("I think we will see crude oil at $100 dollars a barrel before we see it back at $40") can impact the price a gallon of gas costs an entire nation. Each day that goes by, I find the whole thing just more and more revolting. Each day that goes by you realize that everything that almost everyone says is really just a lie to serve their own agenda. That to me is where accumulation leads. The question is, since we are there, where does accumulation go from there?
Fuck. I need a beer.
Darwin
I think the focus for most of the projects is on the easily reproduced (and thrown away) object, not necessarily original objects. The 7th and 12th projects deal more with the collection of original objects, and research into the collecting mentality. I'm trying to avoid the junior-year sociologist student (re: stupid) approach, not wanting to make wild assumptions or generalizaions. Maybe trying to garner more thought on why- in particular, objects with no apparent function. Having books or cds around make sense, in that you could pick it off the shelf and use it- not so like with a collection of bells, or small statues.
also,it might be worth looking at "Nine Shift" (also www.nineshift.com), wherein they authors describe this time as similar to the 1900-1920 period, in the digitalization, and the shift from product-objects to the mp3 or digital movie as the object, and what the implications are of that. Do you best to ignore the portrait of the authors, as they look like they're in a religious cult.
Also, as I think I wrote earlier, the idea with the project is not to exasperate the viewer, so I would be curious to know if that seems like the point as of now, in the proposal stage, and possible suggestions to change that.
More later,
Lou
Post a Comment
<< Home