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December 4, 2015 – January 23, 2016
Sponsored by the William S. Robinson estate
First Friday reception December 4, 6:30-9pm

Collecting is a distinctively human practice. Why do we do it? Whether it’s fine art, historic artifacts, or Lord of the Rings paraphernalia, personal collections are all driven by the same urge to identify and acquire that which we find precious. In doing so the objects we collect take on additional significance, significance which can turn into worth if recognized by others. Some collectors preserve their objects untouched, while others interact with theirs regularly and even use them to create something new. What constitutes “precious” varies extremely from person to person, but collecting itself is nearly universal. The collectors featured in this exhibition are defined by their collecting practice as much as they define their collections. The way they amass objects and what they choose to collect is more than a hobby; it is an integral part of their character. Cherish or Perish seeks to examine the act of collecting, be it an act of love, compulsion, nostalgia, obsession, or a combination of motivators. It exhibits Grand Valley collections of all shapes and sizes as well as interviews with the collectors.

Image: Willem Van Haecht, The Gallery of Cornelius van der Geest, 1628 (not exhibited)