Ben J. Cunningham
Lolly Pop Necklace from the Just Playing and Having Fun Series, 1999
Found candy and metal spring
13 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 3 inches
Racine art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton, Racine
Expect the Unexpected: Unusual Materials in Contemporary Craft
October 21, 2020 – July 3, 2021
Pablo Picasso’s Still Life with Chair Caning—an oval-shaped painting trimmed with a piece of rope as a frame—is often acknowledged as one of the first assemblage pieces as it incorporated a found object as part of the composition. Picasso’s work is also an early modern illustration of the idea that artists sometimes willingly utilize and experiment with materials that were produced for purposes other than art-making.
The advent of industrialization in modern Western societies encouraged the production of more goods and, ultimately, more excess and waste. This reality—as well as the idea that artists were able to focus more on the investigations of personal interests rather than commissions—led to endless new possibilities for using unexpected materials in their creative endeavors.
Expect the Unexpected features artworks drawn from RAM’s collection that incorporate unusual, surprising, or challenging materials. Rather than shying away from the potential care challenges they might entail, RAM embraces these objects as reflections of the inventiveness and experimentation that characterizes much contemporary art. However, RAM acknowledges that preserving and caring for works made of unusual materials does present some unexpected challenges. For example, artist Wesley Fleming’s Hornet’s Nest—which combines an actual found hornet’s nest with flameworked glass hornets—poses long-term conservation issues that are far different than those of a traditional ceramic or glass vessel. Similarly, artist Joy Raskin created spoon brooches with handles accented with actual aspirin tablets, which necessitate strategies for preservation far different from those usually associated with metal jewelry and objects.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Jerry Bleem, Patty Cokus, Susie Colquitt, Ben J. Cunningham, Teresa Faris, Wesley Fleming, Robly A. Glover, Lindsay Obermeyer, Emiko Oye, Joy Raskin, Karyl Sisson, Janna Syvänoja, Cynthia Toops, Jan Yager, and Sebastian Zarius
Expect the Unexpected: Unusual Materials in Contemporary Craft
October 21, 2020 – July 3, 2021
Ben J. Cunningham
Lolly Pop Necklace from the Just Playing and Having Fun Series, 1999
Found candy and metal spring
13 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 3 inches
Racine art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton, Racine
Pablo Picasso’s Still Life with Chair Caning—an oval-shaped painting trimmed with a piece of rope as a frame—is often acknowledged as one of the first assemblage pieces as it incorporated a found object as part of the composition. Picasso’s work is also an early modern illustration of the idea that artists sometimes willingly utilize and experiment with materials that were produced for purposes other than art-making.
The advent of industrialization in modern Western societies encouraged the production of more goods and, ultimately, more excess and waste. This reality—as well as the idea that artists were able to focus more on the investigations of personal interests rather than commissions—led to endless new possibilities for using unexpected materials in their creative endeavors.
Expect the Unexpected features artworks drawn from RAM’s collection that incorporate unusual, surprising, or challenging materials. Rather than shying away from the potential care challenges they might entail, RAM embraces these objects as reflections of the inventiveness and experimentation that characterizes much contemporary art. However, RAM acknowledges that preserving and caring for works made of unusual materials does present some unexpected challenges. For example, artist Wesley Fleming’s Hornet’s Nest—which combines an actual found hornet’s nest with flameworked glass hornets—poses long-term conservation issues that are far different than those of a traditional ceramic or glass vessel. Similarly, artist Joy Raskin created spoon brooches with handles accented with actual aspirin tablets, which necessitate strategies for preservation far different from those usually associated with metal jewelry and objects.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Jerry Bleem, Patty Cokus, Susie Colquitt, Ben J. Cunningham, Teresa Faris, Wesley Fleming, Robly A. Glover, Lindsay Obermeyer, Emiko Oye, Joy Raskin, Karyl Sisson, Janna Syvänoja, Cynthia Toops, Jan Yager, and Sebastian Zarius
Gallery of Work
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Partners
Anonymous
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
Ron and Judith Isaacs
The Estate of Marilyn Rothschild
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Partners
David Charak
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation
Diane Zebell
Gold Partners
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Reliance Controls Community Fund
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Silver Partners
Anonymous
Anonymous
Bader Philanthropies
Baird
A.C. Buhler Family
Dave’s Wine Garage
Paula and E.L. Donovitz Memorial Endowment Fund
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Tom Harty
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Robert E. Kohler Jr. Fund
Luanne Frey and Mark Lukow
Sheri and Frank Sullivan
Wisconsin Arts Board
Bronze Partners
Sandy and Gus Antonneau
Carol Baylon
Susan Boland
Rose and Peter Christensen
Educators Credit Union
Carol Griseto
Julia Ann Oas and Don Gloo
Hitter’s Baseball
Debbie and Chuck Hoffman
Susan and Dan Horton
Gary Van Wert and Ronald Jacquart
Paula Kalke
Bill and Debbie Keland
Nancy Kurten
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
O&H Danish Bakery
Rita Petretti
Rasmussen Diamonds
SC Johnson
Harold and Lois Solberg
Twin Disc
Marc J. Wollman
Amy and Robb Woulfe
Media Sponsor
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