The Curator's Eye

The Shock of the Potlatch

Selected by Sol Hashemi, Jason Hirata and Claire Cowie.

Photo of Gift Shop presents and daughter Tabitha by Claire Cowie.

When the Henry Art Gallery closed its gift shop last year, Seattle artist Matthew Offenbacher got an idea: taking inspiration from Lewis Hyde’s ode to traditional gift culture, The Gift, Offenbacher arranged for local artists to take over the space. “It’s a world apart from the power relationships of curators and professionals,” says Offenbacher, “a bubble for experimentation and sharing ideas.” The Henry had only two requirements: “No immediate danger of death, no open flames.”

This month, distinguished artists Sol Hashemi, Jason Hirata and Claire Cowie have mounted a show, The Gift Shop Presents: Presents. The trio has packed the gallery with gifts of all kinds, creating a utopian alternative to the competitive art world. All visitors are invited to bring a present and trade it for one they find there. All artworks in the show will be given away.

“The lunatics are definitely taking over the asylum,” Cowie says. “It’s freeing because these shows have to be conceived and created so fast (two weeks) that there is no time to worry. The local art market is still suffering, and if no one’s going to buy your art anyway, you don’t have to care what they think so much. It’s a time to have fun, to question meaning, to try new things.

“Since everyone places a different value on things, particularly art, it will be interesting to see what people are willing to give. All gifts are not necessarily of art, some are other kinds of things people have made like writing, music, knitting or more conceptual approaches to ‘gift.’ I’ve put money in there.” Cash, trash, or objet d’art, all is yours for the taking — or rather, trading.

So what’s the big idea of the show? “Even the most famous works of art are like trash to some, and their value is questionable,” Cowie says. “And even though it’s not much, no one would throw away a dollar, or even a quarter.” 

The Gift Shop

Located at Henry Art Gallery

University of Washington
15th Ave. NE & 41st St.
Seattle, WA 98195
206.543.2280

To see more, visit the Gift Shop's Web page. For more information, contact gift.shop.project@gmail.com