installation view at Galerie Lange + Pult in Zürich raw oil paint on sewn canvas tarpaulins each 36" x 36 inches / 91,5cm x 91,5cm
The artist regularly shipped his artworks wrapped with bright orange heavy-duty bubble-wrap. In 1988 "Orange Crate" was fabricated, featuring oversized photos printed from transparencies of the orange bubble-wrapped exhibition shipments overlayed with photos of Sunkist oranges —a notion of limited shelf-life. This was his first "crate" sculpture.
In November of 1989, a bevy of art shipping crates were flown to the Daniel Buchholz Gallery in time for the artist's "Made In Canada" solo exhibition opening on the same day as the Köln Art Fair.
A multiple shipment of 24 crates of varying sizes were delivered via Air Canada Cargo, and an additional 5 smaller crates of identical size were couriered with overnight service via Federal Express.
The Air Canada crates featured B&W photographs documenting actual shipping information (customs declaration, air waybills, commercial invoices, handling instructions) —utilizing the camera in a way similar to a photo-copier. These documentary photos were coupled with B&W photos of details of the actual crates, as well as umbrellas and crystal stemware.
The Federal Express crates featured color photographs of similar shipping documents, along with photos of Fed Ex trucks and shipping materials.
These empty crates were shipped "as-is" with no protection, with declarations of "No Content", and arrived at the destination gallery marked, scuffed, and stickered. The titles identified the multiple shipment. (i.e.: "4 of Five", "5 of 24", "3 of Five", "21 of 24", and so on.
Additional Air Canada Cargo and Federal Express crates were produced in 1990 for shipments to the Josh Baer Gallery in New York to replenish the back-room inventory.
Shipments
color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples (shipped as-is w/out protection by Fed Ex) 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45,7cm x 61cm x 30,5cm
installation view of "Made In Canada" exhibition at Daniel Buchholz Galerie, Köln. black & white photographs, various sizes of wooden art shipping crates, staples
Polaroid Shipment of works wrapped in orange heavy-duty bubble-wrap.
Polaroid Shipment of works wrapped in orange heavy-duty bubble-wrap.
Color photographs, wood, screws and staples. 42" x 42" x 42 inches 106.6cm x 106.6cm x 106.6cm
Plastic sign posted at the "Made In Canada" exhibition at Daniel Buchholz Galerie, Köln
black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm collection Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x61cm collection Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x61cm collection Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (gift of M. Frank Kolodny in 2005)
black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x61cm collection Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (gift of M. Frank Kolodny in 2005)
color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45.7cm x 61cm x 30.5cm private collection, Houston, Texas from the multiple overnight shipment to Josh Baer Gallery in New York
color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45.7cm x 61cm x 30.5cm Multiple overnight shipment to Josh Baer Gallery in New York Collection: The Tang Museum, Skidmore College
color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45.7cm x 61cm x 30.5cm from the multiple overnight shipment to Josh Baer Gallery in New York
Installation view at Marlborough Chelsea, New York (May 2013) collection Beth Rudin DeWoody, West Palm Beach
Color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45.7cm x 61cm x 30.5cm Multiple overnight shipment to Daniel Buchholz Galerie in Köln collection Beth Rudin DeWoody, West Palm Beach
Color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45.7cm x 61cm x 30.5cm Multiple overnight shipment to Daniel Buchholz Galerie in Köln
Color photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 18" x 24" x 12 inches 45.7cm x 61cm x 30.5cm Multiple overnight shipment to Daniel Buchholz Galerie in Köln
Number Magazine article written by Federal Express employee Debora Gordon
Multiple overnight shipment to Josh Baer Gallery in New York
Review of the "Made In Canada" exhibition at Daniel Buchholz Galerie, Canadian Art Magazine, Spring 1990, Volume 7, Number 1, pg 91
Detail view of the multiple shipment.
One of three 24" square crates shipped via Air Canada Cargo to Le Case d'Arte Gallery in Milano. Black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
One of three 24" square crates shipped via Air Canada Cargo to Le Case d'Arte Gallery in Milano. Black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
One of three 24" square crates shipped via Air Canada Cargo to Le Case d'Arte Gallery in Milano. Black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
One of three 24" square crates shipped via Air Canada Cargo to Le Case d'Arte Gallery in Milano. Black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
One of three 24" square crates shipped via Air Canada Cargo to Le Case d'Arte Gallery in Milano. Black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
One of three 24" square crates shipped via Air Canada Cargo to Le Case d'Arte Gallery in Milano. Black & white photographs, wooden art shipping crate, staples 24" x 24" x 24 inches 61cm x 61cm x 61cm
negatives of crystal stemware fused together with transparent adhesive cello tape (which shows the seams, glue, and air pockets)
negatives of an umbrella fused together with transparent adhesive cello tape (which shows the seams, glue, and air pockets)