Artist of the Week
Sol Lewitt
09/09/1928 - 04/08/2007
Sol Lewitt was one of the go-to artist's when one wanted to talk about conceptual art, minimalism, or early postmodernism. He liked drawing simple geometric shapes, particularly squares and cubes, and had a penchant for linework. Some of you may know him as the guy who would draw up a simple repeatable schematic for large wall drawings and then have others, interns, museum workers, day-painters, your mom take over and draw the piece. Sometimes those drawings would accidentily get damaged and then the museum would call him up and tell him what happened. No worries though, he usually just said "Well, get someone to draw a new one." Usually they got it in writing. It should be said that he felt that he was a composer and the workers his orchestra.
We know him also as a book artist. It's funny because many of the eulogies or life biographies that I have looked up have failed to mention him as an earlier creator of contemporary American Artist's Books. He was also on of the founders of Printed Matter in New York.
Lewitt made approximately 64 books in his lifetime 57 of those before 1990. That's quite a few books so it is surprising the lack of mention they have received when people sum up his life's work. He was quoted as saying "The serial artist does not attempt to produce a beautiful or mysterious object, but functions merely as a clerk cataloguing the results of a premise." Not necessarily something I would agree with, but he was a conceptualist you know.
For a description of some of his books please go to http://www.vrc.dundee.ac.uk/CAB/PDF/Sol_Le_Witt_essay.pdf
and for one of many obits:
I'll leave you with some images.
images from Autobiography (1980)
Fifteen etchings: Straight Lines and Four Directions and all Their Possible Combinations (1973)
The man is nothing if he isn't honest about his titles.
The Queen Is Dead, Long Live the Queen:
After an incredibly successful first year it is time for a new executive commitee. Effective as of the summer our new Pulp, Ink & Thread representatives are:
President: Lauren DeBeau
Vice President: Amy Jacobs
Secretary: Kenneth Gerleve
Treasurer: Former Vice President Stephen the Desantis
SOC Rep: Brandy LaChapelle
Alt SOC Rep: Sara Andrews.
Congratulations to these fine young soldiers of art.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this first year so incredibly successful. It was completely a group effort and everyone should be patting each other on the back. With the exception of Brandon who I do believe a few of you have a 15 foot restraining order on.
Other News:
-Bill and Vickie from Vamp & Tramp stopped by on Friday to do critiques and to talk about their traveling experiences and collection expertise. Unfortumately I was unable to make it (due to a golfball migraine behind the eye) so if anyone wants to comment on this please feel free.-Unfortunately the June gallery show at AllRise Gallery has been cancelled due to unexpected costs. I humbly apologize for this and am taking quick steps to get a replacement gallery as soon as possible.
-Lessons in Learning: Art and Education from the Artist's Book Collection is a show currently exhibiting at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Evidently the head curator of the Artist's Book Collection doesn't like what we do here, but that is no reason for us not to go see some of the earlier examples of American Artist's Books. I'm sure there is lots of Ed Ruscha.
-Like Prints? You have got to check out the Glore Print Study Room at the Art Institute. It is amazing. They also have a selection of books, but I'd go there just for the Paula Rego.
Signing Off...Until next time we always remain P.I.T.
re: MCA: damn straight, there is. there's a whole freaking wall of boxes of ed ruscha upstairs on the top floor, before you walk into the photo exhibit. as if he's that much better and gets to be on top.
ReplyDeleteboring as hell, i say.
but still, go and see the rest of the boring books they own. there was one that i liked among the ones you can handle (bolted to the pedestal), and in the cases some examples of classics, but still ... boring.
I think the important question is why does the Curator of Artists' Books at the MCA not like "what we do?"
ReplyDeleteHow does she know what we do, especially since she has never been here?
I think it is a mistake to make categorical assumptions about any group of people. Isn't that a definition of racism?
How do we engage her in dialogue?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIncoming to Outgoing
ReplyDeleteUmmm...
Joseph... Lauren was very upset that she was ousted from her Presidential Compound and forced into Number Two status. Was there a hanging chad in the mix?
In light of recent events, Amy has ordered more security, and promises to reverse all campaign promises now that she's the President elect.
I, however am very proud that you remembered my secretarial status. Once an office bitch, always an office bitch, as they say. I best be gettin' some flowers for Secretary's... er, I mean Administrative Professionals' Day.
Also, you're missing some line breaks and you change fonts in your list at the end of this post. There is no excuse for sloppy typography. : )
Love lots,
-The New Regime