Show Me The Monkeys

November 13, 2002

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) presents an evening of monkey-driven books, music, drinks, and creations to celebrate a popular component of our current exhibition "Pictures, Patents, Monkeys and More...On Collecting". Sock monkey toys have been a popular handicraft of the American Midwest since 1953, when the Nelson Knitting Company first published directions for turning a pair of cotton socks into a stuffed animal toy. An important collection of these objects, now on view at ICA, is the subject of a new book by Arne Svenson and Ron Warren, who will be here for a book signing of sock monkeys (200 out of 1,863). A spanking new group of monkeys will also be on display: created by Drexel University's College Media Arts & Design fashion students. These will be donated to a local charity. But you can take a vintage sock monkey home, from the selection that will be on sale for $20 each. The evening will include music (monkey lyrics) and cocktails (banana daiquiris). The galleries will be open. This event is free and open to the public.

sock monkeys (200 out of 1,863) by Arne Svenson + Ron Warren
Lit from the front, cropped to the shoulders, eyes to the camera, each simian subject conveys its individual personality in this album of 200 black and white portraits of sock monkeys. These engaging, humorous, and at times disturbing photographs by Arne Svenson are based on the extensive collection composed by Ron Warren since 1985. Svenson is well known for his classic portraiture of inanimate objects. (He has worked extensively with The Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, and is the author of Prisoners, 1997) Written portraits also appear by contributors, who include novelists Jonathan Safran Foer, Neil Gaiman, and Dale Peck; entertainers Penn Jillete and Teller; and fashion commentators Simon Doonan and Issac Mizrahi.
sock monkeys (200 out of 1,863) is distributed by D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers.
ISBN 0-9722111-2-8 • $24.95 • 8" x 10" • 224 pages • 200 duotones

"Pictures, Patents, Monkeys and More...On Collecting" presents contemporary art from the Robert J. Shiffler Foundation, in terms of themes of collecting. This activity is further represented by 19th-century patent models from the Smithsonian Institution; Egyptian antiquities from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology; and, of course, sock monkeys from a private collection. Other exhibitions on view through December 15th include "Cosmic Thing" (a sculpture installation, based on a deconstructed VW Bug, by Damian Ortega) and drawings by Amy Cutler. The Ramp installation by Kimowan McLain remains on view through May 2002.

For more information on current exhibits please visit www.icaphila.org/news/ for complete press releases.

Who: Collector Ron Warren and photographer Arne Svenson
What: Book signing for sock monkeys (200 out of 1863), new sock monkeys on view, vintage sock monkeys for sale ($20), cocktails and music.
When: Friday December 13th, 6-8pm
Where: ICA 118 S. 36th St. Philadelphia PA. Next to Urban Outfitters on University Square at U of Penn.
Why: Fabulous book, fun music, and a chance to catch the ICA exhibitions before they close.

ICA
The ICA is located at 118 South 36th Street at the University of Pennsylvania. The ICA is open to the public, except during installation, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday through Friday and from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults; $2 for students over 12, artists, and senior citizens; and free to ICA members, children 12 and under, PENN card holders, and on Sundays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, call 215-898-7108/5911.

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