Grouping & Display Inspiration: Allan McCollum's Surrogates

We've shown empty frames as a decor idea before and I like the idea when it involves a whole collection of them. I recently came across an image by Paul Joseph Hopper (the last picture) and was instantly reminded of work of artist Allan McCollum.

McCollum has a series of works called Plaster Surrogates or Surrogate Paintings that remind me of empty frames in the sense that it isn't about what is in the frame but about the grouping of the frames as a whole. The first 4 images above are all McCollum's work in various installations.

(Images: 1 Dwell Magazine, 2 Artsjournal, 3 New York TImes Magazine, October 5, 2006, 4 LA Times Magazine, photo by Francois Halard, 5 Paul Joseph Hopper, )

MORE EMPTY FRAMES
• Using Empty Frames: A Classic Idea That Still Works
• Displaying Empty Frames
• Room of Empty Frames by Yonoh
• Display of Frames

Comments (8)

I'm interpreting this as a comment on how art is negligible for its own value, but often used merely to add color or interest to a wall. Why not bypass the arduousness of finding a piece that works with your color scheme and just spray paint and hang empty frames?

posted by slowdown on September 1st 2009 at 1:14pm
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a little creepy and sad, esp. the ceiling of the bobbing globes.

posted by Cactina on September 1st 2009 at 1:16pm
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Can you imagine trying to dust those globes - the horror!

posted by Milady on September 1st 2009 at 1:43pm
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Slowdown, your comment was too funny. Especially considering people do paint (usually old) frames and hang them on the wall. I have done that with a couple of old window frames, which I know is a bit different but same concept.

There really is something eery about these rooms. They feel too sterile and cold. One and four aren't that bad but the others...frankly, they scare me.

posted by sam on September 1st 2009 at 2:35pm
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I like most of these, but I LOVE the bottom one. The scale and the composition is great. I'm not as fond of the others for some reason.

posted by Curtis on September 1st 2009 at 2:54pm
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#1 and #4 have an odd sort of 50s graphics vibe, which I do like...but the other, esp. those globes....not so much. The globes remind me of those scary looking "mammatus" clouds.

posted by muirwoods08 on September 1st 2009 at 11:11pm
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I love love love the first one; it triggers something in my subconscious that has a soothing and uplifting effect. It brings to mind the title of one of AT's series of posts: Color Therapy!

I think I could rant on why it works, but I don't want to, I just want to enjoy it.

posted by kushkush on September 1st 2009 at 11:42pm
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I think the first one is okay but the rest of them look like something out of "The Twilight Zone"

posted by idontdobeige on September 2nd 2009 at 4:15am
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