Works by 35 artists, classic and contemporary, present the art of the wrapping in tempting variety humorous, luscious, or doleful 3/4 the box crushed, its ribbon shredded. Surprises Unknown: The Art of the Wrapping (on view February 8 through May 3) is a survey of contemporary art that takes as its leaping point the groundbreaking work of Christo and Claudio Bravo and their myriad wrapped projects to look at the thrill of the surprise-to-come that a package brings.

What do we feel when we see Ray Kleinlein’s classically polka dot-papered package? Why does E.V. Day mummify Barbie in silvery ribbands, the “last” package? William Wegman conquers the wrapping challenge when he wraps a dog (Game Piece, 2001) as does Jeanne Silverthorne who encases an office chair in bubble wrap and tape (Bubble Wrapped Task Chair, 2016). The package tantalizes, even the ordinary brown Amazon box, which Avital Burg recreates in Box in a Corner, 2013.