We’ve been wanting to write a short note to you all ever since the evening of the IMA’s 125th Anniversary Gala. What a night! A great show of energy and commitment to the museum, a rare chance to spend time with a brand new, permanent work from a major living artist and really just a great party.

Type A piece up for auction at the 125th Gala

But one thing stuck in our heads more than anything else. As we walked in, we saw so many familiar faces at work: first Kim, then Jyl, then Tad, Sarah, Allison, eventually Tammy (on duty with full security gear!)… The list goes on. So many others. We greeted each other, high-fived, maybe chatted a bit. Knowing so many people at the IMA is a privilege and a direct result of the Team Building Project. The kind of familiarity experienced that night, so casual and so comfortable, struck us as a rare and remarkable result of the art-making process. We always hope that in making art, we are exposed to new experiences, ones that we could not have predicted before (and sometimes after) a project begins. This is a personal dividend that we truly value in the work we’re doing together.

Next week we return to Indy to make art together and discuss new ideas for the sculpture. The Team Building Project continues to get deeper, more rewarding and more meaningful. The tangible outcome of the Project, the “residue” we discussed in previous entries, is evolving as a direct response to the encounters we’ve shared. We never planned where this would take us. We have simply been committed to responding as honestly and openly as possible, as artists and as participants in an ever-changing process. We continue to balance commitment to our ideas with responsiveness to the challenges that emerge.

We believe there is a creative arc in the process of making art. It starts with the artist searching for an idea and then shaping what it is to be. At some point, there is a switch; the idea begins to let the artist know what it needs to be and what needs to be done to achieve its ends. Recognizing that tipping point and responding honestly is something that we have always tried to do in our practice. This Project has brought new meaning to that creative arc. It is a privilege working with you all and we look forward to seeing you on November 14th.

Type A