Rauschenberg's follies

Everyone here is headed to DC to see the retrospective of Jasper Johns' paintings before it closes at the end of April. There was a time when I found great inspiration in John's work and sense of humor. His work doesn't do it for me these days. The last time I looked it seemed dated.

Last month I managed to make time while I was in NY to visit a small exhibition of Rauschenberg's early transfer drawings. I found them to be just as delightful in March as I did 20 years ago. Maybe I am a sucker for his mark-making? They remain to be current for me... even work made so long ago... and personal. It is work that combines the personal and the political with a vibrant curiosity about artistic boundaries, technology, etc. I haven't given up on John's work. His show at the National Gallery closes at the end of April. It deserves a visit and I hope to make the time to see it.

I've linked the title of this post to a great site I've just discovered. As much as I try to always look forward its just my nature to look back. This drawing and the music and graphics from this link were made within a very short time period of each other. Although each artist work comes from a very different place here is a sweetness in both that I find sorely lacking in contemporary art pop culture. Irony is a bitter pill and I've lost my appetite for it.