Shelby David Meier’s OJAC Cell Series exhibition is aptly titled Almost Everything and More.
In one gallery, the artist filled the space with what appears to be a collection of random debris or trash. As one studies the individual elements it becomes apparent that the objects are not just things that the artist has randomly collected and placed in the context of art. Each object has been crafted individually by the artist and some objects are not what they appear to be. What seem to be folded packing blankets are in fact solid concrete forms. What looks like the remnants of takeout Styrofoam containers are in fact facsimiles of the same in cast unglazed porcelain. The color and detail in the form give few clues they are formed from a material that has been utilized for centuries.
Museums are filled with objects whose origins may have been for utilitarian use—the creator never intending the object be collected or displayed in an art museum. I know Shelby David Meier is very aware of this idea, but what of the viewer? Recognizing that art can pose more questions than answers, Meier’s installation does just that. Who decides what is trash and what is treasure? Is it art just because it’s in a museum? What is the difference between art and artifact? And finally, what is the role of art? Is it to make the viewer think or just visually please? Artists have pondered similar questions over the decades, and the work they create in response can often blur lines.
Patrick Kelly
Executive Director
