The Closer Things Are

Shannon Anderson and Jay Wilson
The Closer Things Are
Waterloo/Sackville/Halifax/Lethbridge, Canada: UWAG, Owen's Art Gallery, Saint Mary's University Art Gallery, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, 2017
62 pp., 21.5 x 15 cm, softcover
Edition size unknown

Edited by Shannon Anderson and beautifully designed by Jay Wilson, this slim volume documents their co-curatorial project, which debuted in September at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery and travels to three other venues over the next year.

The exhibition features projects by Kathleen Hearn, Ève K. Tremblay, Laura Letinsky, Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, Luke Painter, Chris Kline, Roula Partheniou as well as Micah Lexier in collaboration with both Partheniou and myself (separately).

"The Closer Together Things Are explores the space between difference and similarity that arises from intense observation and consideration. It focuses on the proximity of time, heredity, frottage, palette, concept and presentation. Under close scrutiny, the most mundane objects and situations can compel us, drawing our full attention. The more we look, the more variations surface; differences arise from things that once seemed identical, and sameness arises from things that once seemed unrelated. This exploration of nearness guides how the artworks interact with one another through proximity, mirroring, repetition and reinterpretation. Strange bedfellows are made and unforeseen connections arise. The Closer Together Things Are takes stock of how little we need to see in order to feel like we’ve seen these things before, only this time more clearly."

- Press release