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Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Caned Dance, 1974 by Bruce Nauman


Caned Dance, 1974; Lithograph on Arches paper; Signed B Nauman, numbered 9/100, and dated 74 lower right; Co-published by Multiples Inc. and Castelli Graphics, New York; Size - Sheet: 22 x 30"; Unframed. 

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!     

"I'm surprised when the work appears beautiful, and very pleased. And I think work can be very good and very successful without being able to call it beautiful, although I'm not clear about that. The work is good when it has a certain completeness, and when it's got a certain completeness, then it's beautiful." - Bruce Nauman

Bruce Nauman is an American artist who has worked for over three decades in a variety of media including: photography, performance, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, neon, sound, and printmaking among others. Nauman is regarded as one of the most important artists working today, and his work is collected by all the major art museums of the world.

A large amount of his artwork is characterized by the use of language, that will often manifest itself into mischievous, odd, or playful ways; often pitting the metaphoric and definitive nature against each other. He will also manipulate the interaction of words through the use of puns, palindromes, anagrams, and repetition. Nauman is also interested in the pitfalls of language as a means of communication, control, and the artistic manipulation of visual symbols.

Nauman collaborated with the famed dancer and dance instructor Merce Cunningham. Cunningham's work from 1970 entitled "Tread" is a lighthearted work, that was described by Patrick O'Connor as "sometimes hilarious and always good-humored piece" in which "the dancers get into some extraordinarily complicated physical entanglements." Don McDonagh described the rehearsal, "it begins quietly, with the company seated, and then works up to a humorous set of catches, lifts, and fast exits and entrances which resemble a French bedroom farce. At the finish, the work returns to its original, tranquil state." "Tread," 1970 was another piece that Cunningham collaborated with other visual artists in order to join multiple artistic disciplines. Jasper Johns, who had previously worked with Cunningham, invited Bruce Nauman to design the set for "Tread," which consisted of ten large industrial fans that were aligned in a row across the front of the stage. The fans were set to oscillate, and they rotated from left to right; blowing air out into the audience.


Close up of the Bruce Nauman signature, edition number, and the date.


"Caned Dance" is a spectacular work by Bruce Nauman that deals with language, most directly with words that relate to performance. The word "Dance" is preceded by "Caned" creating in the mind's eye a series of dance movements involving a cane being used as a prop. The entire work of art is composed using brushstrokes of three colors; pink, yellow, and green. The unpainted cream paper and yellow brushstrokes make up the capital letters of the two words. Choice of colors and the way in which the colors are applied create an optical effect that obfuscates the text, and veils the words as being instantly read and understood by the viewer. This work was initially published and sold in order to raise funds for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in New York. This is a beautiful original hand signed work of art by Bruce Nauman and a great addition to any art collection!

Friday, November 3, 2017

Merce Cunningham I, 1974 by Andy Warhol


Merce Cunningham I, 1974; Screenprint on Japanese gift wrapping paper; Signed Andy Warhol and numbered 9/100 in pencil verso; Co-published by Multiples Inc. and Castelli Graphics, New York; Size - Sheet 30" x 20"; Catalogue Raisonne: Feldman/Schellmann: II.124; Unframed. 

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!     

"I never wanted to be a painter, I wanted to be a tap dancer." - Andy Warhol

Merce Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer was a leader in field for over 50 years. He is also remembered for his collaboration with other artists in other mediums including: John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg Bruce Nauman, Jasper Johns, and Andy Warhol.

Merce Cunningham recalls seeing artwork by Andy Warhol: "I was with Jasper Johns at an exhibition and Andy's pillows were just piled in a corner. I immediately thought they would be marvelous on stage because they moved, and they were light, and they took light. So I asked Andy and he said, 'Oh sure.' Some of the pillows were filled with air - they stayed on the floor - but some were filled with helium and they floated. The dancers had to understand the technique of working with them; you had to push, not kick, to get them to float. When we first did "RainForest" they had only one rehearsal with the pillows, and a lot went into the audience."


Close up of the Japanese Flower Gift wrap paper.

The dance performance "RainForest" premiered on March 9, 1968 at the Buffalo State College in New York. The title is a reference to childhood memories that Cunningham had of the Northwest and of the Olympic Peninsula. The dancers wore flesh colored leotards and tights that were cut with a razor blade by Jasper Johns to give the costumes a rougher appearance.


Close up of the Andy Warhol signature and the edition number.


This is a very rare full figure profile portrait of Merce Cunningham by the great Pop artist Andy Warhol. The image shows Cunningham wearing tights and leaning forward while balancing a chair behind him. This is a wonderful image of the famed dancer, in a striking and majestic pose. The image has been screened onto a sheet of brightly colored Japanese flower gift wrap paper, which provides a brilliant backdrop that is reminiscent of Cunningham's desire for an artistic background. This work was initially published and sold in order to raise funds for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in New York. This is a beautiful original hand signed work of art by the Pop artist Andy Warhol, and a portrait of one the twentieth century's most influential dancers. A great addition to any art collection!