Cultural Currency: Contemporary Art from the Riemer Collection

Cultural Currency: Contemporary Art from the Riemer Collection presents the innovative ways artists use money as a medium to explore preconceived notions of value and worth beyond declared denominations. The artists in the exhibition investigate monetary value by meticulously repurposing bills and coins into exquisite, conceptually engaging artworks.

The constant exchange of money for goods and services is core to our daily lives and has been for centuries. We rely on monetary transactions, a quintessential human act, to meet our needs and desires – from luxury purchases like high-end cars and clothing to essential items like food and shelter. Given this worldwide phenomenon, consumers rarely consider the aesthetic qualities of currency, which range in various colors and sizes, and were designed and crafted by artists. As artist Ray Beldner aptly points out, U.S. currency is “the world’s biggest ongoing print edition. Every bill is unique, and it’s numbered uniquely. It’s signed by the person that caused it to be made, the Secretary of the Treasury. It’s made from archival materials. It’s 100 percent cotton. It’s beautifully done.”

Like Beldner, who realized money had been overlooked for its material qualities – the artists of Cultural Currency have repurposed money into contemporary artworks that address an array of issues, including race, capitalism, politics, national and cultural identities, and much more. However, it is the psychological toll brought on by monetary rule that is shared by all artists in the show – from humor to fantasy to desperation – the emotional impact is palpable as money seems to be an abstract, illusive object for many. Oakland-based investment advisers Davis Riemer and Louise Rothman-Riemer know this sentiment well and have played the role of guidance counselor throughout their careers. In 1995 they began collecting currency-themed contemporary art inspired by some of the stories they have been told with the goal of encouraging new attitudes toward money’s intrinsic value. As Davis Riemer states, “the point of it all is to provoke thought about why people want and use money and why they want more. Our hope is that people will see these works of art and walk away with questions about themselves and money.” Louise Rothman-Reimer reminds us that money is just paper and coin and that humans instate value, turning it into the ultimate form of conceptual art. Rothman-Reimer states, “Money is not money. It is what people want. It is power, security, the ability to do the things that they want, need, or would like to do. Money is very fungible, and it becomes what people bring to it.”

Universally relevant, visually stunning, and at times critical, Cultural Currency asks us to consider how the definition of currency can be reshaped into a multifaceted object steeped in meaning and intrigue.

Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat from noon to 5PM
Irving Arts Center’s galleries are open for viewing free of charge during regular gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 PM.