Some collectors in Open House: A Portrait of Collecting self-identified as such. Others identified as artists. Some did not identify as either, but were willing to share objects that reflected their professional context or their family history. Still others did not realize they were collectors until they saw the collections of others.
The language that described the participating collectors (whatever their self-designation), which we used in gallery signage and online, was different for each entity. We did not use one standard format but kept the individual voices as a collection of difference.
Taken collectively, these portraits of the collectors are, at inception, in motion in terms of style, language, address, anticipated audience, and function, rather than a static and consistent presentation. The multiple representations offered by the diverse collections, and the institutional, biographical, or personal statements, reveal the way that objects frame and move self-interpretation(s) as well as audience responses. Perhaps any act of sharing is about moving from inner to outer worlds and from self in relation to other(s).
Hover over the image for the name of the collector. Click on the image for a statement.
Summary:
Collectors included institutional collectors and individuals. Each entity had a different relationship to collecting: some showcased their objects on a regular basis, others collected for personal reasons and had never presented their collections publicly. I focused primarily on local and regional collectors because I wanted to emphasize the potential connections between them, and also to promote the different types of relationships that can be found in dense communities. Collections revealed new aspects of people you encountered regularly, as well as made introductions between strangers.
