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Needful Things |
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About the Exhibition
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About the Exhibition Influential German artist Joseph Beuys once claimed that “the idea of multiples is the distribution of ideas,” notes Associate Curator of Contemporary Art Jeffrey D. Grove. “In the so-called marketplace of ideas, multiples allow artists to experiment with issues and ideas that may be distributed more directly, more potently and more economically than traditional, unique artworks,” claims Grove. Cathleen Chaffee, CMA curatorial assistant of contemporary art and co-curator of this exhibition, states, “Perhaps because of their accessibility, multiples tap into some of the intellectually acknowledged, if psychologically suppressed, pleasures surrounding one's relationship to art: the desire to possess, fetishize and own it.”Needful Things: Recent Multiples explores and revels in those needs. It also exposes and encourages such behavior by making available information on how visitors may obtain these multiples for themselves. Needful Things includes rarified multiples that consist of few examples and are relatively expensive to produce and purchase such as Elizabeth Diller (American, b. 1954) and Richard Scofidio's (American, b. 1935) sophisticated cocktail glasses, Vice ,Virture (edition of 8) (1997) as well as easily reproduced examples published in unlimited numbers, such as Allan McCollum's (American, b. 1944) More Visible Markers in Twelve Exciting Colors (2000). McCollum's work exemplifies other pleasurable aspects of the multiple: candy-colored and affordable, they are eye-catching and entertaining. The renowned artists in this exhibition also include 2004 Whitney Biennial artist Sue De Beer (American, b. 1973), whose Untitled (Pink Guitar) (2003) is from an edition of 10, and E.V. Day (American, b. 1967), whose unique multiple of Barbie dolls enveloped in wax and twine show how ordinary objects become sensational. Other highlights include never before seen new editions by Isaac Julien (British, b. 1960), represented by eight 14-karat gold knuckle rings that spell L-O-V-E for one hand and H-A-T-E for another, Tony Matelli's (American, 1971) cast bronze and hand-painted cigarette butts, and Iran do Espírito Santo's (Brazilian, b. 1963) elegant sculptures of a keyhole in black granite and stainless steel. Organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art. This exhibition is supported in part by a generous gift from Central Cadillac-Hummer. The Cleveland Museum of Art receives operating support from the Ohio Arts Council and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of Americas leading comprehensive Museums. Its permanent collection is world renowned for its quality and breadth, spanning 6,000 years. The Museum is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship and art acquisitions. For more information on the Museum, its holdings, programs, services and events, call 1-888-CMA-0033 or visit www.ClevelandArt.org. Page 1 of 5 | On the next page: Exhibition Highlights |
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