Fuse Works: Multiples and Editions
curated by Amanda Alic and Ethan Crenson
December 4 - January 3rd
Opening Reception Friday, December 11th, 7-9
Hours Fri-Sun 1-6 and by appt.
Join us Friday, December 11th from 7-9 for the reception of Fuse Works: Multiples and Editions
Fuse Works grew out of the Front Room’s multiples and editions program which began in early 2007. Dedicated to presenting artists who approach the editioned work as a field of artistic discourse and inquiry rather than simple mass marketing, Fuse Works has assembled an extensive catalog of multiples and editions representing a diverse group of artists and a wide range of approaches. December’s exhibition will present all-new work by both veteran Fuse Works artists and newly discovered talents.
Fuse Works defines the term 'multiple' to denote a work of art that is produced in quantity. An artist may have these works mass-produced, but may also produce each piece him/herself so that there is some variation between examples. Usually a multiple is smaller and more affordable than unique artwork. An editioned work, on the other hand, is produced so that there is no variation between examples (i.e. a photographic print, lithograph, etc.) Books, objects, photographs, works on paper, video, audio and digital art are all included in this exhibition.
“Art is not money” Sean Landers wrote not long ago. Recent events involving credit default swaps and mortgage derivatives have begun to suggest that money is not money either. Artists have noticed, and some of the artists in this exhibition have responded by making currency the subject of their artwork as well as the vehicle for its exchange. Double A projects (Athena Robles and Anna Stein), for instance, have produced One World Currency--a global currency created in conjunction with the first Global Free Store (2009). The bills can be purchased from Fuse Works, or can be obtained by exchanging goods or services with either the gallery or the artist. Lotte Lindner & Till Steinbrenner have produced a screen print resembling paper money in an edition of 1000. The first print in the edition is offered at $1, the second at $2...the final bill in the edition $1000. In this it seems that the dispersal of the full edition resembles a simple but audacious ponzi scheme, but one that bears a resemblance to the standard pricing of editions by print galleries. John O. Smith has devised a similar scheme in the production of his book project Currency Exchange. Smith began by binding one dollar bills into handsome hardbound books in an edition of ten. Proceeds of the sale of Vol. I were rolled over to create the edition of Vol. II which consists of bound editions of two dollar bills. Vol. II will generate Vol. V and so on. The value of the project will continue to appreciate until all common denominations of US currency have been exchanged into artist book form. For this exhibition Fuse Works will offer Volume II at no mark-up thus preserving the conceptual integrity of the Currency Exchange project. Other artists who engage the almighty Dollar/Yen/Pound/Euro are Marshall Reese and Nora Ligorano who have produced Dough-Yos, a limited edition yo-yo.
Another subject explored by artists in this exhibition is the concept of time. Though time seems more intangible than money, it has been mined and refined by Chiara Camoni. Her piece “10 days” offers time for sale. The time in question has lain unclaimed for centuries: 10 days excised from the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII. With the help of a notary Camoni took possession of the 10 days and offers to bestow them on collectors. Celeste Fichter’s “Time Stamp” is a simple reminder of our changing relationship to time and it’s measurement. Fichter has produced a rubber ink stamp reading “time” and instructs the collector to stamp it on the wrist--the former location of many a wrist watch, since replaced by the ubiquitous cell phone. Andrew Eyman’s Shell Beach, an installation and multiple, reminds us that clocks and watches merely represent an abstract concept. The multiple offered here is a wristwatch in which the face and works have been replaced with colorful sand--evoking the utopian paradise of the title. Dominick DiPietrantonio’s has made clocks that dance stunning patterns across their faces, but they do not tell you the time.
Some of the artists in the exhibition create transactional artwork--work that requires the collector to interact with the artwork (or in some cases the artist) beyond simply purchasing it. James Leonard’s lenticular post card “Greetings from America” is one such case. Once purchased, the card is sent to the collector through regular post with a personal note from the artist. Chuck Jones offers a mash-up video of all of the Star Wars movies in packages of three. The purchaser is required to give 2 of the copies away to friends. Other pieces in the show are wearable, including work by Serge Onnen and Jan Obornik.
The exhibition also includes artists who have produced books (Luca Bertolo, Robert Flynt, Christian Brown), works on paper & photographs (Sara Sun, Patricia Smith, David Kramer, Ross Racine, Gregory Curry, Heidi Cody, Alison Unsworth), video (Matt Richards, Stephanie Koseff) and objects (Rebecca Loyche, Oscar Perez, George Spencer, John Marriott).
The Front Room Gallery is located at:
147 Roebling Street in Williamsburg Brooklyn.
718-782-2556
A printed Fuse Works catalog is available at the Front Room gallery (www.frontroom.org) and all works will be available for purchase on the Fuse Works web site ( www.fuse-works.com)
