RE-CREATIONS
Temporary Services has initiated an ongoing project titled "Re-Creations." The purpose of this project is to re-create specific art works so that they can be experienced directly, and the ideas can be shared with others. An important part of Re-Creations is to research the ideas, intentions, and decisions that went into the original work in order to reproduce it as faithfully as possible. The example of the museum "Exhibition Copy" which is used to stand in for an original that cannot be presented or transported is useful to consider. The "real" copy isn't available, so the "Exhibition Copy" stands in for it, thereby providing viewers with an experience that is not available otherwise.

What can be re-created? Works by artists that may be tied up in institutional control or individual ownership, works that have received little attention due to institutional biases or fashionable milieus, and works that are rarely available in other countries and cities (for reasons like: the artist is unknown, or does not have gallery representation or institutional support). An important factor is to reproduce the work as faithfully as possible to the artist's intentions. Every effort must be made to understand the materials and components of any chosen work as fully and carefully as possible. Only art works that can reasonably be reproduced should be considered. Most videos, paintings, and photographs are probably not an option. Works where the artist has allowed other people to execute the work on their behalf or in their absence, or by following a set of instructions, are often particularly appropriate.

An open invitation is extended for people to propose works for re-creation at our office or another location. The work is not for sale. It is presented in this manner solely to provide a direct encounter with work deemed important by the person that has selected it. The names of the people who choose work for re-creation won't be published. This is done in order to take away focus from the selection process - who is doing it - and to place that focus squarely, where it should be, on the art work and its direct experience.

Please send a detailed proposal and description of the work you would like to re-create at Temporary Services (or at an off-site location) to: servers@temporaryservices.org We will help make guides for chosen works provided that it is possible to re-create them from written and/or photographic instructions.
Here are some re-creations that have already been completed:

Measurement: Shadow, by Mel Bochner


Untitled (Perfect Lovers)
, by Felix Gonzalez Torres - [ Approximate Re-creation found in Kyoto, Japan, 2000]


A 36" x 36" REMOVAL TO THE LATHING OR SUPPORT WALL OF PLASTER OR WALLBOARD FROM A WALL
, by Lawrence Weiner

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