The following works are an extension of the “Studio Work” project.* Rather than accumulating more text drawings, paintings, or sculptures for the purpose of display in Mark Nakamura’s studio to motivate himself, these new works are created as gifts to motivate others. They have been offered as gifts to friends and acquaintances working in a variety of professions in exchange for a photo that documents the gift in the recipient’s creative working space (and the rights to the photo). Thus far, motivational artworks have been shipped to a variety of international locations to an architect, a filmmaker, an art administrator, curators and artists. As stipulated in a contract between the artist and the recipient of the motivational artwork, the recipient is responsible for producing the photographic documentation of the gift in his/her given creative working space, which will become the artwork of Mark Nakamura. In some cases, there is an overlapping of art practices or blurring of boundaries created because of this project. For example, “Act Now,” was created for an artist who also works as a set designer working in the film industry. This artist has been working on a series of photographs where she documents the film sets that she works on. Therefore, it is possible that she may document the motivational text artwork on a film set, which will be representative of her own art practice but becomes absorbed into Mark’s artwork. This example also highlights that the result of these exchanges is an atypical collaborative effort where the artist has little direction over the final artworks. In another example, a friend will be including a motivational text artwork in an art exhibition he will be having at the end of an artist residency. Though the gallery will produce documentation of the exhibition, as stipulated in the contractual agreement, photographs that include the motivational text artwork are potentially artworks of Mark Nakamura and create questions about ownership and artistic rights.

* Please refer to the following entry for the project description for “Studio Work.”

Some Way Through This (The Black Ghosts)
Ink on Paper

Some Way Through This (The Black Ghosts) – Victoria’s Studio, TEST
Photo

Finish It (The Fountain), Version 2
Watercolour on Paper

Finish It (The Fountain)
Watercolour on Paper

Finish It (The Fountain) – Juan’s Apartment
Photo

Everything Is Alright (Four Tet), Version 2
Watercolour on Paper

Everything Is Alright (Four Tet)
Watercolour on Paper

Everything Is Alright (Four Tet) – Matt’s Bedroom
Photo

Great Job! (Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!), Version 2
Watercolour on Paper

Great Job! (Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!), Version 2, Detail
Watercolour on Paper

Great Job! (Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!)
Watercolour on Paper

Great Job! (Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) – Leonardo’s Exhibition (Spaces Gallery)
Photo

Great Job! (Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) – Leonardo’s Exhibition, Detail
Watercolour on Paper

Things That Dreams Are Made Of (Human League)
Pencil on Paper

Things That Dreams Are Made Of (Human League) – Renna’s Room
Photo

Act Now
Gauche on Paper

Act Now – Renee’s Worksite (Film Set)
Photo

Yes We Can (Obama)
Watercolour on Paper

Yes We Can (Obama) – Cate’s Office (C.H. Scott Gallery)
Photo

Make It Happen (Playgroup), Top Left
Adhesives on Paper

Make It Happen (Playgroup), Top Right
Adhesives on Paper

Make It Happen (Playgroup), Bottom Left
Adhesives on Paper

Make It Happen (Playgroup), Bottom Right
Adhesives on Paper

Make It Happen (Playgroup) – Jonathan’s Work (Or Gallery)
Photo

Yes Yes Yes
1/3, Watercolour on Paper

Cheers To You (The Cheer Company)
Oil on Paper

The Start Of Something (Voxtrot)
Cut cardboard

The Start Of Something (Voxtrot), Version 2
Watercolour on Paper

Mission Accomplished (The War On Terror), TEST
Wire

Mission Accomplished (The War On Terror)
Wire

Emerge (Fischerspooner)
Cut Paper

Emerge (Fischerspooner), Version 2
Watercolour on Paper

It’s Not Over Yet (Klaxons)
Oil on Paper

Es Facil (Album)
Watercolour on Paper

You Can Have It All (Yo La Tengo)
Watercolour on Paper

GIVE’R (Fubar), TEST
Vinyl on Paper

GIVE’R (Fubar)
Watercolour on Paper