In the West, even artists are rugged individuals who tend to go it alone. Although those who find strength in numbers are especially rare in Seattle, they’re gaining ground.
Here’s a history of who stands out.
1. Buster Simpson: In the late 1970s, he was key to coming up with the public art concept of the design team. Now that the concept is ubiquitous, it generates more than its share of timid art, but Simpson’s version continues to stand out. He changes partners with nearly every job and makes the process of collaboration part of his performance.
Vertical Planters. (Image via)
2. The studio glass movement is nothing but teamwork, yet a single star almost always tops the credit line. Not in Flora Mace/ Joey Kirkpatrick‘s studio. Life and art mates, they have made it work for more than 30 years.
After the debut of Mace and Kirkpatrick, years went by. Not a peep from anything close to a successful team. Then, in 2002, a couple appeared who named themselves after a tool known for its usefulness in first drafts.
3. Lead Pencil. (Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo) Skating on the line edge of art & architecture and claiming both. Like Mace and Kirkpatrick, life partners.
Under the Surface, 2008, charcoal/paper, 72 x 60 inches
Since 2005, more good collaborators have been making their mark than at any time in the city’s art history. Aside from two artists who joined forces briefly, these new group thinkers are all male. Not a female in the bunch, or even a female on a team.
4. Sutton/Beres/Culler: (John Sutton, Ben Beres and Zac Culler) Comedy from the heart, formalism from the brain: Their performances, documentary photos and installations are moving them onto the national stage.
Dumanish 1 2009 – rowing on a local river that makes non-musical use of the term, heavy metal.
5. Eli Hansen. Because Hansen made his Seattle debut working with his already famous brother, Oscar Tuazon, many felt he was little more than Tuazon’s assistant. Two Seattle galleries (Howard House and Ambach & Rice), offered to represent him, but only if he brought his brother along.
Here is where Scott Lawrimore (Lawrimore Projects) shines. He is not distracted by resume. He could see right past Tuazon’s glow to Hansen’s gold. Lawrimore offered Hansen representation by himself and with any partners he wants to take on. So far, these partners have included childhood
friends Joey Piecuch and Herman Beans.
Notes Hansen on the LP Web site:
We are
brothers and friends first, artists second…We know each other’s
weaknesses, sadness, and confusion…We work in the same way we have
always worked together–as a community and as a family.
Hansen and Piecuch, I’m not paranoid because I’m high, 2009
6. Fred Muram and Mike Simi: They want to be art partners, but it’s hard when they each do their best work alone. Unlike its members, this team has yet to prove itself. If they do, it will have to be by long distance, as Muram has moved to Chicago.
(Muram left, Simi on ladder. Image via)
7. Sol Hashemi and Jason Hirata: Brilliant both alone and together. The James Harris Gallery recently picked both up, but as individuals. Harris said he isn’t interested in collaborations, which leaves the pair free to work together wherever else they choose.
Hirata & Hashemi, The Dirty Shed Project.
Know others I’ve forgotten and/or missed? Please note them in the comments.
Thanks!
heres a few
Oldenburg/VanBruggen
Keinholz/Reddin
The Art Guys
Christo/Jeanne Claude
Gilbert and George
Los Carpinteros
Einar and Jamex De La Torre
I dont know where you get this Buster Invented the Design Team stuff, but its WRONG.
The Seattle Arts Commission invented the design team, mostly Anne Focke. And then they hired Buster, and Sherry, and Andy, and put em together. It was like being drafted.
I was on the very next design team a few months later- and I can tell you- they did not ask you who you wanted to work with, you were assigned team mates, just like college roommates. Then, as artists, you went to do battle with the Architects, who didnt want you, didnt respect you, and did everything they could to undercut you.
I love the Buzz Bomb, and bow down before his eccentric genius. But he is his own man, and he is not the poster boy for teamwork. Viewlands Hoffman had distinct Buster Zone (assemblage furniture) and Keating Zone (traditional paintings as signs) as well as colored transformers and the Gerke Whirligigs, which, as I understand it, were more communal efforts.
It was a great first step. But hardly a great example of integrated design team work, with a single finished artwork being mutually created and realized.
Hi Ries. Thanks for the ambitious list. Seattle art teams is the topic. Interesting about the early days of the design team, like “getting a college roommate.” No wonder it has turned out so well.
PDL, FTW
Shawn. PDL yes! Forgot them. FTW? WTF? Who they?
For The Win – internet meme, but would make a great name for a collaboration.
Cathy McClure and Seth Sexton.
Hello big guy who seeks the light. I know nothing about this team. As individuals, yes, but collectively? Not a thing.Thanks for bringing them up.
Most of Seattle’s kick-ass dance companies are helmed by women, and with people like Pat Graney, the line between installation and ‘dance’ is pretty darn blurry. Juniper Shuey and Zoe Scofield….Haruko Nishumura has a whirlpool of artists around her who she repeatedly, for years, works with (i.e. Steven Miller). There must be more…I feel like everyone is on a team now…
You’re not on a team, Mandy. Occasional collaboration is not the same thing. You’re on team Mandy.
I don’t understand your reply to my comment, please explain. I didn’t say anything about myself being on a team, now did I….nor is that something I aspire to. I mentioned some people I am familiar with who came to mind when I read the post, i.e. Haruko and Steven, Juniper and Zoe. And just my interest in how some of the exciting teams working in Seattle are headed by women, especially those that don’t seem to have a care about blurring the arbitrary lines of ‘disciplines’.
Hi Mandy. I thought the collaborations you mentioned were similar to ones you’ve done. Temporary. One night stands instead of a marriage. The post was about marriage. Regina
Just to clarify we are married ; ).
Also we consider ourselves co-artistic directors of our company that does dance, theater, photography, and installation. This next project actually combines one concept into two versions. One is an interactive installation where the viewer experience is to move through and participate in a visual art way and the other is a performance on a stage where the viewer is sitting in a seat as an audience member. Both versions have a very different outcome and allow us to to create works in two distinct and engaging ways.
I would say that team work really does open up opportunities to cross boundaries of art mediums in ways that will influence both mediums in interesting ways. When I think of suttonbereculler’s stage performances they were quite strong because of their work as a team in the visual art world as well.
It also brings to mind the piece they had in there last show at lawrimore project where they cut up the stack of dollar bills to show you how team work splits the money. Teamwork is both rewarding and complicated.
I hope the understanding of how teams work in the visual art world will continue to grow and expand the conception of artist. Thanks for bringing up the issue.