Kelly Mark: Knife Collection (ongoing collection project)

Knife Collection - 2002 Version
55" x 113" x 1/2" SS knives & SS magnetic knife strips
Ongoing life long collection project started in 1995. Exhibited differently each time shown.

I have numerous works that have turned into life long accumulative projects, time based yet also dealing with modes of collection, counting, and inane obsessiveness. This work began in 1995 while I was living in Halifax and working as a waitress. I began by 'collecting'...stealing knives from other restaurants, friend’s apartments, airplanes etc, as long as each knife was unique. Every other year or so I like to show this work in a new format. This current version utilizes wall mounted magnetic knife strips creating a piece which roughly measuring 5’ x 9’. The work tends to mark upon not only the obsessive nature of collecting but also the particular oddities and forms that such collections can take. The innocuous and banal ‘butter’ knife has become my form of participating in this culture while keeping my sense of humour about such things intact.

exhibition history> (in various formats)
1995 Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery (Halifax NS); 1996 Articule Gallery (Montreal QC); 1996 Dofasco Gallery (Dundas ON), 1996 The Palace at 4 am (London ON); 1998 Ace Art Inc - Site Gallery (Winnipeg MB); 1999 Kate’s Apartment (Toronto ON); 2000 Contemporary Art Gallery (Vancouver BC); 2000 Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (Toronto ON), 2001 Burlington Art Center (Burlington ON); 2001 University of Waterloo (Waterloo ON); 2002 Wynick-Tuck Gallery (Toronto ON); 2002 Museum of New Art (Detroit MI US); 2003 Art Gallery of Windsor (Windsor ON); 2005 Ottawa Art Gallery (Ottawa ON);

Knife Collection - 2002 Version (detail)

Knife Collection - 2002 Version (detail)

Knife Collection - 2002 Version (installation view)
'Bout Time @ Wynick/Tuck Gallery -Toronto, ON

Knife Collection - 2000 Version (installation view)
"12345" @ Contemporary Art Gallery -Vancouver, BC 2000

Knife Collection - 1998 Version (installation view)
7 1/2" x 12" x 18' - SS knives & concrete blocks. "Literally" @ Ace Art/Site Gallery -Winnipeg, MB 1998

Knife Collection - 1997 Version
Dimensions variable - "Layers" @ Wynick/Tuck Gallery -Toronto, ON 1997

Knife Collection - 1996 Version
19" x 19" x 3" butter knives, wood and plexiglass -"Compact Abundace" @ Articule Gallery. Montreal PQ 1996

Knife Collection - 1995 Version (detail)
4' x 6' x 1' butter knives, galvanized steel shelving and brackets - "Kelly Mark Works" @ MSVU. Halifax, NS 1995