The Creative Chaos behind the Creative Process

Too high? Too low? Down on the right? Up on the left? Symmetrical? Asymmetrical? Is this upside down? These paintings look great together. These pieces divorced years ago and don’t speak to one another, put them on another wall. Is this part of the box? Should we measure it or just go for it? How about this?

Installation of Quaterra went down last week and these are usually the questions that Jillian and I answer during the install of show. Other than lunch, music trades and our occasional staff “Top 5’s” that often get ridiculous and inappropriate, installing exhibitions is what I enjoy most about working for Flagstaff Cultural Partners.

Jillian is one hell of a curator and does a great job conceptualizing shows and bringing artists with similar processes and ideas together. This process of curating and installing exhibitions is what I like to call “the creative process behind the creative process” (Aristotle told me that back in ’87) and in my mind it’s almost as important as the art making itself. It’s essentially a puzzle where some pieces fit together and others don’t.

I really enjoy the stimulating thought process behind organizing the presentation of a show. This process has nothing to do with picking a frame type or matte color for a photograph, that’s easy.

I am talking about is the how elements like concept, subject matter, form, color, style and essence of a particular artwork are felt in the gallery space. I’m talking about how one artwork can stand-alone while another plays off of the pieces that surround it. Does a certain sculpture compliment the painting to it’s right? Does this particular sequence of imagery change the viewer’s interpretation of the work? Can photography and painting hang together? What does the viewer see?

These same questions come up during every installation but the answers always change. This is why installation of exhibitions will never become monotonous and why I love to be part of them. In the end, it’s the artwork that speaks but to see the answers that Jill and I came up with last week, you will have to come out to view our newest installation, Quaterra.