A studio wall, against a backdrop of the domestic, in central Tokyo, will be host to an exhibition ‘open and shut’, or was it ‘wee things in the greater ever after of an exhibit of things out of a suitcase’? I don’t remember! It doesn’t matter: A simpler title was selected, starting and ending with ‘suitcase’.
Cosmo-organism.
A conversation began some two years ago, through email--Oakland, Philadelphia, Munich, and Tokyo. Chats assured that turned prepositions of art into glowing latch hole news and views into the different private productions of artists, which, at least for this writer, stoked up the fire with possibility. These were virtual studio meets. There was also talk about kids, no kids, busy days, seasons, very simple stuff--all with ease.
If opportunity came, it was talked that what a great idea it would be to get something physically together.
This possibility moved closer to real with a phone call to this writer, from Munich based artist Richard Schur on sabbatical in the U.S, in the morning of a busy Monday.
Fast forward and others have been invited to participate: Richard invites Christopher Brown, Joseph Hughes, and John Zurier, who, in turn, ask two more. John Zurier supports inside job and wife, Nina Hobbs Zurier. Christopher Brown brings on fellow artist Maria Van Elder: all-inclusive, impressive--a bunch from Bay Area clue.
There are Munich connections; 'humorist', 'architectural', 'poems too', Johannes Veit and Georg Wirsching. There is Richard's wife, Tokyo born, Akiko Tomikawa.
Chris Ashley, in Oakland, asks colleagues Mel Prest, and curious George Lawson.
Douglas Witmer, in Philadelphia, on telephone, requests Lynne Harlow, then Paige Williams.
No one hung up... more, phew!
The event has everything about it, causal and casual, without having to hammer anything down. Simple phone calls, long emails, a list of tentative, and the 'sure I’m in!' is almost finally over. The last call is to board: with no thought of best or rotten egg.
The Title: ‘suitcase’ and what could fit in, 'small inches' as a sort of governing theme.
