Some of Tom’s Typewriters
From the Collection of Tom Hanks installed by Simon Doonan
JAN 12 - MAR 10
Opening Reception:
Saturday, January 11th
6 PM - 7:30 PM
Tom Hanks, © 2013 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission; Simon Doonan, photo by Joe Gaffney
The Church is pleased to announce an exhibition of important typewriters from the collection of actor Tom Hanks. The exhibition installation has been designed by the renowned creative director Simon Doonan, who will transform The Church’s extraordinary space into a fanciful home for these magical machines in all their iconic, sadly obsolete glory. The show will open on January 12th and run through March 10th, 2025.
Hanks hand-picked the 35 typewriters from his collection of more than 300, spanning nearly the full history of the object, presenting an overview of its evolution as well as some charming, surprising innovations. Simon Doonan, the display and exhibition designer par excellence best known as the former Creative Director of Barney’s and for his books and essays on culture and style, is taking full command of The Church’s unforgettable space, designing an installation that is beguiling and playful while also underscoring the importance of the subject.
“This exquisite edit of the typewriter collection of Tom Hanks will delight visitors of all ages.
These machines - strange, complex but also ridiculously simple - have so much to teach us about history and culture. This is why I leapt at the chance to design this installation. My goal is to spotlight the charm, engineering majesty and social/historical aspects of these fascinating artifacts. After all, the soundtrack of the 20th Century is the magical clacking and pinging of a typewriter. Clack, clack, clack...ping!”
Some Typewriters continues The Church’s ongoing foray into the life of things, building off its annual shows that delve into material culture. Prior examples include Re:Cycle – The Ubiquitous Bike in 2023, which explored the bicycle; and Hand Made in 2022, which explored the guitar. The Church’s approach to material culture focuses on form, creative innovation, and whimsy.