Jay Johnson's "We Attempt to Contain" was the first artwork created at the California Center for the Arts Museum's artist-in-residency program. The piece served as the conceptual anchor for the exhibition "California: In Three Dimensions" and is accompanied by a drawing of the piece that was also created during the residency program.

A small, red worktable holds a 10-foot wall of open birch boxes containing small objects, red satin, or closed doors. An elegant construction, the small containers fit together in a style that references Piet Mondrian's paintings.