26 July 2005
Art designed to travel
Travel and art collide in Artstation’s latest exhibition, which features sculptures small enough to fit in a suitcase.
More than 40 international artists feature in The Suitcase Show, which has travelled extensively throughout the United
States of America.
The exhibition explores the transfer of ideas between cultures and recognises the importance of showing art in different
places. For this reason, all the pieces are compact enough to fit into a suitcase.
Although small in scale, the sculptures make use of a wide variety of media from wood and metal to stone and plastic.
The artists all belong to the Tri State Educational Association, an organisation of sculptors who exhibit together and
meet to share ideas among themselves and the public.
A New Zealand-based member of the Tri State collective, Jim Wheeler, says the association’s organisational model is an
exciting one that may be relevant for local artists.
“The style and make-up of Tri State Sculptors relates directly to Kiwi ingenuity and the New Zealand way of doing
things. Tri State Sculptors is a “Number 8 Wire” group of practising artists who organise and promote themselves,” he
says.
Chief organiser and North Carolina-based artist, Greg Shelnutt is in New Zealand for The Suitcase Show. He sees the show
as an opportunity to engage with and meet New Zealand artists and the public.
Both Greg Shelnutt and Jim Wheeler will discuss their art practices and the relevance of Tri State Sculptors “Number 8
wire” philosophy to New Zealand artists on Thursday 11 August at the Artstation Gallery.
The Suitcase Show exhibition information: Artists: Tri State Sculptors Exhibition: 9 – 27 August 2005 Opening:
5 – 7pm Tuesday 9 August 2005 Artist’s Talk: 6.30pm Thursday 11 August 2005
Artstation, Auckland City’s community visual arts facility, is located at the old police barracks at 1 Ponsonby Rd,
Newton. It is easy to get to by public transport with the Link’s ‘Artstation’ bus stop right outside.
ENDS