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The
snow has melted away in Manhattan, but on Sunday it looked like
this. Photo: JH.
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There
was a most unusual book signing last night at Robert
Rauschenberg’s down on Lafayette. It was for Sidney
Felsen, a co-founder in 1966 with Stanley
Grinstein of Gemini G.E.L., the Los Angeles publisher
of handprinted, limited edition lithographs of some of the
greatest contemporary artists of our time. Mr. Felsen has just
published a coffee table book The Artist Observed: The
Photographs of Sidney B. Felsen, (Twin Palms Publishers,
2003, $60.) a photo document made over the years of the artists
at work at the Gemini studio on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.
The great
majority of Mr. Felsen’s photographs were taken of the artists
in the midst of their work. Using a rangefinder camera with a silent
shutter, he was able to catch the artists without being intrusive. |
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Robert
Rauschenberg and Sidney B. Felsen
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Malcolm
Morley and James Rosenquist at work with a Rauschenberg
behind
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Rauschenberg
signing with his thumbprint
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Among his subjects
in the book are Josef Albers, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Serra,
Robert Motherwell, Richad Diebenkorn, Brice Marden, David Hockney,
Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg,
Frank Stella, Philip Guston, Ann Hamilton, Malcolm Morley, Robert
Gober and Jonathan Borofsky. These are
rare images of artists, private, intimate and fascinating.
Over the years Mr. Felsen took more than 20,000 photographs including
many of the modern masters at work. David Hockney, quoted by Charlie
Scheips in an article about the book in the December Quest,
said: “Sidney had a great opportunity: access to most of the
great artists working today. I told (him) that I, for one, am glad
he took advantage of it.” |
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The
Artist Observed: The Photographs of Sidney B. Felsen
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L.
to r.: Roy Lichtenstein signing Wallpaper with Blue
Floor Interior, 1992; Robert Rauschenberg cycling
in the Gemini parking lot after an all-night session of proofing
the "Stoned Moon" series.
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L.
to r.: Jasper Johns painting onto an aluminum lithographic
plate for O through 9, 1977; Richard Serra during
his proofing session for Rounds & Ellipses, 1998.
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What
was unique about last night’s book signing was
that many of the artists featured in the book were on hand to autograph
the books including Rauschenberg, as well as Brice Marden and James
Rosenquist (who is presently the subject of a retrospective at
the Guggenheim).
They also used the rare coming together of these artists to raise
money to assist other artists in financial emergencies: books were
sold for twice the price, ($120.) with the proceeds going to the
cause. Dozens were lined up lugging four, five, half dozen copies
for signing. What a great gift it will make for the modern art lover
as well as collectors of photography. |
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Malcolm
Morley
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Brice
Marden
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Elizabeth
Murray
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L.
to r.: Dorothea Rockburne; Charlie Scheips; Darryl
Pottorf and friend.
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L.
to r.: Robert Rauschenberg 70s sculpture; Vija Celmins;
James Rosenquist.
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