robert rauschenberg

a great creative soul has left us.

http://www.charlierose.com/guests/robert-rauschenberg

One of the true giants, to be sure. When I was an art student, I used to stare and stare at his works in my textbook. I couldn't understand then how the human mind could be so free and alive. I am getting closer, now. But nowhere near a Rauschenberg experience.

i once read about a performance were he put flashlights on little turtles and let them loose onstage. that in itself, as stupid as it is, was like a revelation to me. i'm sure that the idea of it is more interesting than the execution, but the way of thinking about art and life just blew me away. the playfulness, the joy in creation.

off the wall: a portrait of robert rauschenberg by calvin tomkins remains one of my all time favorite books about art.

All the more amazing is that he grew up in a little town where art was not seen as important; in fact, I think his family belonged to a Christian Church that frowned on imagery of any sort. Did he ever to go school for art? I don't think he did. And he was dyslexic, wasn't he?

Wikipedia article on Robert Rauschenberg

PBS article on Robert Rauschenberg

That PBS article is great! I didn't realize he had (briefly!) studied art on the GI Bill.

Something sweet has gone from the air with the passing of Rauschenberg. Now I just want to go to an art teacher and learn how to do those newspaper transfers! For years I've talked about learning the technique, and still haven't gotten it done. This guy was truly outside the box, and he will be missed.

#7: We used to use lighter fluid in our art classes. There must be a better way!

It's so sad to lose such a creative soul.

Lighter fluid? I'll have to try that one out. I tried lacquer thinner once, and wondered if I would live.