Tools as Art: Work and Play

“It’s not just an understanding of the humor and artistry of a particular piece but an appreciation of how the collection fits the general theme of tools in the workplace, tools in life, and tools as art.”

– John Hechinger

Tools transcend: their essential purpose crosses boundaries of all types; their essential forms and functions enduring across eras, geographies, and cultures. The universality and timelessness of tools have won them a special place in the human psyche as both icon and symbol, embedding them firmly in the foundation of human creativity.

The renowned art collection of the late hardware magnate John Hechinger exemplifies this practical and artistic universality. Over his long career, Hechinger devoted much of his energy, playfulness, and passion to this collection, seeking out works from numerous genres and artists of many backgrounds, all of them bound by a common theme: the democracy of the tool.

In Work and Play, curator Sarah Tanguy explores interlocking principles: tools as icons of labor; labor as a component of creativity; creativity as a form of play; and the art of tools as the most incisive expression of their interrelatedness. This exhibition celebrates the virtues inherent in the art of the tool and highlights the astounding breadth of the Hechinger Collection by illuminating this unique, but ubiquitous, idiom.

Please contact TravelingExhibitions@ArtsandArtists.org for more information.