A STARTER KIT FOR COLLECTORS: AN INTERVIEW WITH THOM CORN
By Howard Pflanzer
I talked to Thom Corn, the curator of the exhibit, A Starter Kit for Collectors, at the Tribes Gallery on Sunday afternoon, May 16th, just before it was coming off the walls of the gallery.
Pflanzer: How did you decide on the artists for this exhibit?
Corn: I wanted artists who made prints and multiples and/or small works. I looked to highlight the artists and culture makers who have come through the Lower East Side in the past three decades. I wanted the most eclectic group of artists around – whether they were from downtown, uptown and midtown. Any and all styles.
Any guiding idea about hanging the show?
My first idea was a salon style hanging of the art works using the entire space. If you look around you’ll see a mind blowing assortment of works that cover the walls of the gallery.
How did you find the artists in the show?
My rolodex is a work of art and that was the key to the show. I looked through it and called artists and if they were at the same number and answered the phone they were in the show. Almost no one who was asked said “no.”
What is the future of the works in the show?
The whole collection has been photographed and it will be on e-bay, virtual and available, for online sales very soon. You can buy the whole collection or any of the individual works. Watch out for it.
Peyote road man
Riding a cycle in three parts
Green woman on a rocky bed
War woman
Moroccan woman
A mandala of breasts
The milk of human kindness
I can still win
Hamburgers and bunny rabbits
Time myself, a John Lennon clock
Geez us
Scratch
Gaeity I
Ojas
Dulce de leche
The dwelling series
Kiki’s bluebird
Botanica IV
Acrobats music birds
Tip the hat
With the hand