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 first "Traveling Exhibition" of luggage works arrived at Margo Leavin Gallery in Los Angeles in 1987. Three sets of mock designer suitcases were shown; "Gun" (featuring photos of weapons –a crossbow, pistol, and hunting knife), "Swat" (featuring photos of the French gendarme in Paris), and "Croc" (featuring photos of Cuban crocodiles).
Then in 1988 the "Traveling Exhibition" at Josh Baer Gallery in New York featured a Fall runway collection of various luggage sets and designer purses. A laundry bag sat in the corner. Monitors above played the "Luggage Sexy" survellance video of airport travellers carrying luggage (surreptitiously shot at their crotch level). The sculptures had further travel to destinations at venues in Germany, Milano, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto, and Vancouver.
The luggage works were hand-crafted from color photographs laminate-mounted to canvas which were then either mounted to masonite, or stretched around plywood forms and staple-stiched in an artisinal fashion. Brass or stainless steel hardware was used as accents, and all luggage works came equipped with leather handles and brass identification tags. Each luggage tag listed name, title, date, and destination/venue.
Traveling Exhibitions
color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on Masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, brass identification tags. "Crocodile" is a set of three 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4½ inches "Crocodile Extreme" is the additional special edition zig-zag impossibly-shaped rolling trunk. 25" x 41" x 16 inches
Installation at Josh Baer Gallery, New York
Detail view showing exhibition tags Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, brass identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize
The additional special edition zig-zag impossibly-shaped rolling trunk. 25" x 41" x 16 inches 63,5cm x 104,2cm x 40,7cm
Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on Masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, brass identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches Collection: Fotomuseum Winterthur (acquisition made possible by the "Jedermann Collection")
installation at Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on Masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, with brass identification tags. set of three 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches
A deluxe set produced for the European market, featuring the French gendarme on one side and weapons on the other side. As seen at Galerie Hans Mayer in Düsseldörf. Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches
A deluxe set produced for the European market, featuring the French gendarme on one side and weapons on the other side. As seen at Galerie Hans Mayer in Düsseldörf. Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches
installation at Josh Baer Gallery, New York
A salute to Michelin, the travel and durability experts. Tire treads surrounds the sides, and the both the logo and famous mascot appear on front and back. Color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Edition of 4 Lifesize
Color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled and tacked to plywood, stainless steel hardware, leather handle, identification tag. One of a series of 3 individual pieces 12.5" x 21.5" x 8 inches 32cm x 55cm x 20.3cm Images of the on-board view of airplane wings have been paired with finely crafted corners featuring the toes of the artist's wing-tip shoes.
Color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled and tacked to plywood, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 3 individual pieces Lifesize Images of the on-board view of airplane wings have been paired with finely crafted corners featuring the toes of the artist's wing-tip shoes.
The content declared is marijuana. color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, brass hardware, leather handles, brass identification tags. 3 individual pieces
A salute to Michelin, the travel and durability experts. Tire treads surrounds the sides, and the both the logo and famous mascot appear on front and back. Color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. 4 individual pieces Lifesize
featuring the artist's actual laundry, non-label basics on one side, and designer clothes (with labels showing) on the other color photographs laminated to canvas, stuffed 29½" x 12" x 12 inches / 75cm x 30,5cm x 30,5cm collection John L. Stewart, New York
featuring the artist's actual laundry, designer clothes (with labels showing) non-label basics on one side, and non-label basics on the other color photographs laminated to canvas, stuffed 29½" x 12" x 12 inches / 75cm x 30,5cm x 30,5cm collection John L. Stewart, New York
images of garden-hoses create a reptile-like skin for these handbags. color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, with garden hose. 2 individual pieces approx 10" x 13" x 2 inches 25,4cm x 33cm x 5cm
these toiletry bags feature images of the artist's bath-tub ring color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, plug and chain. 2 individual pieces
this attache case attaches to the wall with a Velcro backing color photographs laminated to Masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handle, and velcro. edition of three 14" x 4½" x 18 inches / 35,6cm x 11,5cm x 45,7cm private collection Houston, Texas
From the "Green Is Pop" series, photos of rhino noses are staple-stitched in a neo-70's patchwork. Color photographs (printed from 35mm slides collaged with Scotch tape), laminated to canvas and stapled to plywood boxes, with brass hardware and brass identification tags. 2 individual pieces 21" x 31.25" x 8.25 inches / 53.3cm x 79.4cm x 21cm 16.5" x 26.25" x 6.5 inches / 50cm x 66.7cm x 16.5cm Collection (both): Jonathan Berg, NY
Color photographs printed on canvas, plywood, brass hardware, and leather handles. (carry-on size) 14" x 18" x 6.5 inches 35.5cm x 45.7cm x 16.5cm Edition of 2 (one of the 2 is now in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa) * go to link for more info
Glossy-surface marble-like photographs of crypts and monuments from the Mount Pleasant Cemetery embellish this ceremonial set of luggage. Color photographs laminated to Masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 4 Collection: Speyer Family Collection, New York Lifesize 23" x 37.5" x 8.5 inches 19" x 30.5" x 6.5 inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches 14" x 17" x 7.5 inches
Glossy-surface marble-like photographs of crypts and monuments from the Mount Pleasant Cemetery embellish this ceremonial set of luggage. Color photographs laminated to Masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 4 Collection: Speyer Family Collection, New York Lifesize 23" x 37.5" x 8.5 inches 19" x 30.5" x 6.5 inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches 14" x 17" x 7.5 inches
Issue #21, Spring 1989 "Geometry of the Possible" cover story by Earl Miller, pg 54
Published by Hamburg Project 1989 in association with the “D&S Austellung” group exhibition at the Hamburg Kunstverein.
Produced for exhibition at Case de Arte, Milano Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on Masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, brass identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches
Produced for exhibition at Daniel Buchholz Galerie, Köln, and Galerie Hans Mayer, Düsseldorf. Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on Masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, brass identification tags. Set of 2 Lifesize 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches
Detail view showing exhibition tags. Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on Masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize
"Grenade Carry-On" (front) Color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, stainless steel hardware, leather handle, identification tag. Collection of Bil, New York "Gun" (rear) Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 3 Collection of Bil Ehrlich, New York Installation at Presentation House Gallery (Vancouver, Canada)
Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Set of 3 Lifesize 20" x 30" x 10 inches 18" x 24" x 6 Inches 16" x 20" x 4.5 inches Collection: Bil Ehrlich, New York
color photographs laminated to canvas, stapled to plywood, stainless steel hardware, leather handles, identification tags. edition of 2 each, carry-on size: 15" x 18" x 6 inches 38cm x 44.5cm x 15cm left: collection of The National Gallery Of Canada, Ottawa right: collection of Bil Ehrlich, New York
1 of four working photos, showing a nail-clipper arrangement used for the "L.V." borders of "Carry-On".
1 of four working photos, showing a nail-clipper arrangement used for the "L.V." borders of "Carry-On".
Review by Roberta Smith; The New York Times, October 21st
Review by C. Roger Denson; Artscribe, May Issue 1989
Review by David Rimanelli; Flash Art, January/February 1989, pg 122
Old dirty Calvins are pictured on this presentation attache case. Color photographs laminated to canvas, mounted on masonite, brass hardware, leather handles, identification tags. Edition of 2 Collection: Steve Miller, NY Lifesize 18" x 20" x 4.5 inches 47cm x 51cm x 11cm
Announcement card (front) for solo exhibition at Galerie Daniel Buchholz in Köln, March 1988
Announcement card (back) for solo exhibition at Galerie Daniel Buchholz in Köln, March 1988
this attache case attaches to the wall with a Velcro backing. color photographs laminated to Masonite, stainless steel hardware, leather handle, and velcro. edition of three 14" x 4½" x 18 inches 35,6cm x 11,5cm x 45,7cm private collection Houston, Texas