As much as possible given the time and space allotted

For this collections-based exhibition project at the Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, the phrase “As much as possible given the time and space allotted” is at once a title and a set of directions, a project description as well as a curatorial directive, a framework for action and a set of rules. The simple premise of the project is that as many works as possible will be removed sequentially from the gallery’s storage vault over a period of six weeks and installed in the gallery’s exhibition areas. Once the exhibition space is saturated, with all possible areas of wall and floor space occupied, the exhibition will ‘rest’ for two days. Following the resting period, the works will be sequentially returned to their place in the storage vault, leaving the gallery in its former “clean” state, thus marking the end of the project.

Because the gallery will be open to the public for the entire time that works are being installed, As much as possible provides an opportunity for the usually hidden activities of art installation and collection management to become a publicly accessible event. Similar to checking email or facebook pages for updates, or watching a building site, the viewing public will be encouraged to visit and revisit the exhibition to see the changes made and be changed by new additions (and subsequent subtractions) of artworks.

This exhibition will take place in March of 2009.