Artists Space

Donald Lipski:
Gathering Dust

November 11 – December 16, 1978

A photograph of a paper clip wrapped in twine, bobby pins wrapped in linen, and wrapped wires, lined up in a row.
Donald Lipski, work unknown. Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of a paper clip wrapped in twine, bobby pins wrapped in linen, and wrapped wires, lined up in a row.]

From November 11-December 16, the work of Donald Lipski and Richards Jarden can be seen in separate one-person exhibitions in Artists Space's main galleries. These shows represent each artists' first one-person exhibition in New York City and continue Artists Space's policy of introducing serious new work to the contemporary art audience.

Both Jarden and Lipski live in New York, however, the works they will show at Artists Space represent long-term projects initiated elsewhere: by Jarden while living in Nova Scotia and by Lipski in Oklahoma. The similarity between these two artists is their use of small, unconvential materials manipulated directly by hand and the works' reflection of the time involved in their making.

Donald Lipski's cumulative piece, Gathering Dust, consists of approximately 3000 small "sculptures." Each element suggests a kind of nervous manipulation of such materials at hand as paper clips, string, tin foil, wire, pop tops, etc. The pieces are simple, straightforward, and familiar in both form and process. Their total grouping remarks on the surprising variety of form that can be generated by such means as well as eliciting the humorous recognition of the type of energy needed to sustain this activity.

A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of a room painted white with an open door. In the adjacent room, small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall can be seen.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of a room painted white with an open door. In the adjacent room, small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall can be seen.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
Wires, matches, sticks, bits of string, and other scrap metal pieces are strewn across a white background.
Donald Lipski, work unknown. Artists Space, 1978. [Wires, matches, sticks, bits of string, and other scrap metal pieces are strewn across a white background.]
Wires, matches, sticks, bits of string, and other scrap metal pieces are strewn across a white background.
Donald Lipski, work unknown. Artists Space, 1978. [Wires, matches, sticks, bits of string, and other scrap metal pieces are strewn across a white background.]
A photograph of small metal circles and bars on a white background.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles and bars on a white background.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]
A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]

Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust Press Release

Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust Postcard

"November." Real Life Magazine. March 1979. Print.

Zimmer, William, "Small Art." The Soho Weekly News. December 7, 1978. Print. 31.

Exhibitions at Artists Space are supported in part by funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

    A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.
    Donald Lipski: Gathering Dust. Installation view, Artists Space, 1978. [A photograph of small metal circles, bars, and other pieces mounted on a white gallery wall.]