CARTIN COLLECTION

the cartin collection
@ ars libri

the fifteenth in a series of exhibitions at ars libri, boston

Jennifer Reifsneider

Ars Libri 500 Harrison Ave., Boston 617.357.5212

Friday September 10 – Sunday October 30, 2010

HRS: Monday-Friday 9:00-6:00 Saturday 11:00-5:00

From: Steven Holmes
Date: September 2, 2010 5:53 AM EDT
To: Jennifer Reifsneider
Subject: Re: breath, in boston

Jennifer

We do a series of very small, delicate shows in the front space of Ars Libri in Boston. To date, we have done about 14 of these, with artists from the collection. […] I am planning on putting up one of your works from the collection, Condensation of the Space Between.

I've loved this little work ever since I started working with [the collection] 5 years ago. Our plan is to put it, alone, on a white wall about 30' long, facing the street in a window space. Given the nature of the work, the idea of a bottle of condensation on a vast white surface, delicately lit, is quite compelling to me.

Can you give me a little more information on the work's origins? Whose breath? (Yours, but what were you saying/thinking/doing when you 'breathed' the work to life?)

SAH

On Sep 2, 2010, at 6:55 PM, Jennifer Reifsneider wrote:

Hello Steven,

Thank you for the message, and for your interest in the Condensation piece. I'm honored to have the work shown at Ars Libri and in the manner you describe.

First and foremost, Condensation was (and still is) very much about desire. Followed by intimacy, loss, and control. These were all on my mind during the making. I don't recall how long the process took, but for the time, it was all I did, whenever I could. I remember trying to drive my stick-shift car while holding the jar to my mouth. Which for me points to something humorous about making art -- the overwhelming need to do it, right now, and for this impulse to be fueled by whatever is going on that seems so serious and raw and personal, but in the end there's just water. Or just breathing.

Coincidentally, I was thinking about this piece a day or two ago, and while I wouldn't have said as much while I was making it, I see it now as one of several works that deal with re-territorializing the space my body exists in -- how much more or less is there, that we are immanently substantial and insubstantial, that our existence is both more than we know and less than we think. These are thoughts I'm working with very intently right now, and I really like how Condensation gets right to the point without a lot of fuss. This vast thing came of my body, and you can put it in your pocket.

Well, I hope this is helpful, and that the exhibit goes well. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best, Jenn Reifsneider

From: Steven Holmes
Date: September 9, 2010 11:51:15 AM EDT
To: Jennifer Reifsneider
Subject: Re: breath, in boston

Creation, too.

The Biblical religions tell us that god spoke the words of creation, as told in Genesis. Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe this. But there is an ancient story held by mystical Islam, that the creation of the world comes from the breath of God directly - not the words, but the breath, and that this breath is sustained and propelled by the beating of the archangel Gabriel's wings. Of course this is not what your work is about directly, but the idea of the physical movement of breath as a creative and exhausting (literally) action is so rich.

When I look at the piece, I am overwhelmed by the work's ability to display exertion. That much condensation is the result of a lot of exertion. So, yes, this evidence is evidence of both the greatness of the exertion but in the same instant also evidence of how scant it all is. Such a tiny bit of water.

The word 'inspiration' is about breath. So is aspiration and expiration. It all comes back, ultimately, to respiration

SAH

Ars Libri
500 Harrison Avenue, Boston
Monday-Friday 9:00-6:00
Saturday 11:00-5:00
closed on Saturdays in August

(617) 357-5212
Directions to Ars Libri

Condensation of the Space Between
2004
water in dropper bottle.

About Ars Libri

Ars Libri maintains the largest stock in America of rare and out-of-print books on art. Founded in 1976, it has an international reputation as a source for scholars, collectors, artists, and everyone else with an interest in the visual arts. Ars Libri covers all periods and all fields of art history, from antiquity to the present, including architecture, archaeology, photography, and the decorative arts.

the cartin collection @ ars libri the fifteenth in a series of exhibitions at ars libri, boston Jennifer Reifsneider Ars Libri 500 Harrison Ave., Boston 617.357.5212 Friday September 10 – Sunday October 30, 2010 HRS: Monday-Friday 9:00-6:00 Saturday 11:00-5:00 From: Steven Holmes Date: September 2, 2010 5:53 AM EDT To: Jennifer Reifsneider Subject: Re: breath, in boston Jennifer We do a series of very small, delicate shows in the front space of Ars Libri in Boston. To date, we have done about 14 of these, with artists from the collection. […] I am planning on putting up one of your works from the collection, Condensation of the Space Between. I've loved this little work ever since I started working with [the collection] 5 years ago. Our plan is to put it, alone, on a white wall about 30' long, facing the street in a window space. Given the nature of the work, the idea of a bottle of condensation on a vast white surface, delicately lit, is quite compelling to me. Can you give me a little more information on the work's origins? Whose breath? (Yours, but what were you saying/thinking/doing when you 'breathed' the work to life?) SAH On Sep 2, 2010, at 6:55 PM, Jennifer Reifsneider wrote: Hello Steven, Thank you for the message, and for your interest in the Condensation piece. I'm honored to have the work shown at Ars Libri and in the manner you describe. First and foremost, Condensation was (and still is) very much about desire. Followed by intimacy, loss, and control. These were all on my mind during the making. I don't recall how long the process took, but for the time, it was all I did, whenever I could. I remember trying to drive my stick-shift car while holding the jar to my mouth. Which for me points to something humorous about making art -- the overwhelming need to do it, right now, and for this impulse to be fueled by whatever is going on that seems so serious and raw and personal, but in the end there's just water. Or just breathing. Coincidentally, I was thinking about this piece a day or two ago, and while I wouldn't have said as much while I was making it, I see it now as one of several works that deal with re-territorializing the space my body exists in -- how much more or less is there, that we are immanently substantial and insubstantial, that our existence is both more than we know and less than we think. These are thoughts I'm working with very intently right now, and I really like how Condensation gets right to the point without a lot of fuss. This vast thing came of my body, and you can put it in your pocket. Well, I hope this is helpful, and that the exhibit goes well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Best, Jenn Reifsneider From: Steven Holmes Date: September 9, 2010 11:51:15 AM EDT To: Jennifer Reifsneider Subject: Re: breath, in boston Creation, too. The Biblical religions tell us that god spoke the words of creation, as told in Genesis. Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe this. But there is an ancient story held by mystical Islam, that the creation of the world comes from the breath of God directly - not the words, but the breath, and that this breath is sustained and propelled by the beating of the archangel Gabriel's wings. Of course this is not what your work is about directly, but the idea of the physical movement of breath as a creative and exhausting (literally) action is so rich. When I look at the piece, I am overwhelmed by the work's ability to display exertion. That much condensation is the result of a lot of exertion. So, yes, this evidence is evidence of both the greatness of the exertion but in the same instant also evidence of how scant it all is. Such a tiny bit of water. The word 'inspiration' is about breath. So is aspiration and expiration. It all comes back, ultimately, to respiration SAH SAH		Ars Libri 500 Harrison Avenue, Boston Monday-Friday 9:00-6:00 Saturday 11:00-5:00 closed on Saturdays in August (617) 357-5212 Directions to Ars Libri Condensation of the Space Between 2004 water in dropper bottle.
		About Ars Libri Ars Libri maintains the largest stock in America of rare and out-of-print books on art. Founded in 1976, it has an international reputation as a source for scholars, collectors, artists, and everyone else with an interest in the visual arts. Ars Libri covers all periods and all fields of art history, from antiquity to the present, including architecture, archaeology, photography, and the decorative arts.