Built with Indexhibit
Other People’s Things: Furnishing The Collective Foundation 2007
Developed by curator Joseph del Pesco, The Collective Foundation was essentially a set of initiatives that offered new models of collectively-sourced support for artists. He asked me to design spaces for the foundation while it was hosted by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Expanding on the idea of collectivity, I worked with thirty participants who lent pieces of furniture to outfit the space. The pieces were permanently altered based on interviews and returned to them at the close of the exhibition. Audio excerpts from the interviews and “before” photographs of the furniture were included in the exhibit.
I also created a visual pattern based on modular building toys that suggested a dispersed network. This was applied to a series of laser-cut folding screens and screen printed wallpaper that were used to define programmatic spaces (“reading room,” “conference room,” “listening station,” etc.) within the gallery and give the exhibition a pseudo-corporate visual identity.
Studio filled with loaned pieces of furniture.
A patterned wall and video introducing the Collective Foundation greeted visitors to the exhibition.
Settee.
Entrance to the main exhibition hall.
Three chairs.
"Before" photographs of the loaned furniture lined one wall in the exhibition hall.
Perforated folding screens defined the CF Conference Room area.
Detail of folding screens.
The Conference Room table is comprised of several smaller tables, altered to be the same height.
The light fixture in the Conference Room was made from the waste material produced in laser cutting the panels for the folding screens.
Detail of the Conference Room table.
Detail of the Conference Room table.
Detail of the Conference Room table.
Detail of the Conference Room table (L) and one of the chair backs (R).
Conference Room table (L) and two side chairs (R).
"Passing Time" listening station.
"Passing Time" listening station.
Detail of "Passing Time."
"Passing Time" listening station.
View into the reading room (L) and two children's chairs (R).
Tea service (L) and "Animal Magnet" arm chair (R).
Floor lamp.
"Ice Blue" arm chair (L) and bookshelf (R).
Couch and coffee table (piecework upholstery by Helena Keeffe).
Detail of couch (L) and coffee table and area rug (R).
Detail of coffee table with knock-outs from laser-cut screen panels.
Knock-outs from laser-cut screen panels could be used like a building toy.