Installing Sol LeWitt

Installing Sol LeWitt



For those of you unfamiliar with LeWitt’s work, much of it doesn’t exist like most artworks do, as a tangible painting, drawing, or sculpture. Rather, it is a list of instructions on how to create the artwork. As a conceptual artist, LeWitt believed that it wasn’t the finished work that was the “art”; art instead begins and ends with an idea. .....Katie R.



Then why do we need the actual painting at all?



Actually, I find LeWitt paintings to be rather pleasant,
at least, no less so than the decorated walls
of Burger King or Starbucks,
which also are painted according to a list of instructions.

And what's especially interesting about this post
is the comment from Rhona Hoffman,
the local LeWitt dealer,
who wasn't quite sure the instructions
were being followed properly by Matt,
the museum's "technical painter"


In her first comment, she noted :

” A tape painting?’I will read the rest of the article later but think that Matt is up the creek."



Then, in her second comment, she apologized for that above phrase, but still wondered:


"who did come from the Estate to do the drawing?"



So, perhaps the "finished work"
actually is the painting
that's up on the wall?


What's also notable about this entry
is Matt's admiration for LeWitt.

Not as a good designer,
but as:

"a dominant force, completely respected"


I saw the work in progress the last few weeks,
and will see the final version today,
but I suspect that the A.I.C. blog entry
will be far more memorable
than the art itself.




(just like it was
for the airplane engines
on the roof)