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Little Tree Gallery

February 23 - March 23, 2008

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3412 22nd Street San Francisco, CA 94110
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Time Matters
Opening Reception: February 23rd, 6-9pm little tree gallery is pleased to present the conceptual artist James Tantum in his solo show entitled Time Matters. Showcasing a variety of mediums from photography, video, calendars, and artist books, the significance Mr. Tantum invests in time becomes increasingly apparent. Twenty years ago Mr. Tantum made a life-altering decision to eat only oatmeal while protesting for change, for an entire week. Everyday he meticulously recounted the ingredients of each bowl of oatmeal while listing his three daily protests, such as banning nuclear arms, saving the whales and stopping animal experimentation. Mr. Tantum made a book documenting the experience and now, twenty years later, The Great Oatmeal Protest: 20th Anniversary Edition is available to the public for the first time. Indicative of Tantum’s wit, a hundred limited edition 5%-off coupons will be for sale. The coupon is redeemable when purchasing any of Mr. Tantum’s artwork for as long as he lives. But once one has purchased a coupon a decision must be made. Does one ‘cash’ in the coupon for an expensive Tantum piece? If so, then Mr. Tantum retains the coupon and can re-sell it. Or at some point the coupon could be worth more than the 5% discount of any of his works. Slyly, Mr. Tantum has created his own market within the cryptic and volatile art market. The video, Perfection, is a series of iconic—and not-yet-iconic—images moving across a silent screen. Each image highlights things Mr. Tantum perceives as the ultimate realization of perfection. As the images change, opinion, emotion, and taste corrupt the viewer into reaction and reflection. English muffins, the Constitution and spaghetti—Perfect, perfect, and perfect. Additionally, Tantum will be displaying a 2008 wall-calendar, the eleventh in his annual series. Each day contains text personally significant to Tantum from the mundane: Went to Quaker Bridge Mall with family, there for hours. 1978; to the personal: Had lunch with big crush, Maura; nothing will ever happen. 1994; to the surreal: Dreamed my right hand was cut off. 2001. Accompanying each month, at the top part of the calendar, are photos, drawings, and personal lists, such as My Major All-Time Celebrity Crushes. Spend a year with James Tantum and find out why time does matter.