web + aesthetics

["Clive Murray-White" <clivemw@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Dear Philip,

I'm remembering back to about 1976!

There was no mention of Greenberg re: the Smith metal pile, instead both
artists said that Smith had left it them in his Will, things get a little
confused for me because I visited Smith's Bolton Landing Studio/home on
another occasion, Greenberg had it opened up for us, I can't precisely
remember if this was around the time that he had the Smith multi-coloured
sculptures painted white, much to everyone's consternation, or the earlier
visit when I stayed with Ken.

Noland's Smith metal pile was just beside the area that he made, or more
precisely, had his sculptures made, I took a very atmospheric picture of it!
late winter light last bits of snow on and around it.

Nothing actually got made from it at least when I was there, just hours of
argument about how either of them could approach it. Although Caro loved it
dearly he could see that it was quite unlikely that he could ever use it,
reading between the lines, even though Caro acknowledged his personal debt
to Smith his personality could not let him pay any kind of direct or obvious
homage to him.

By comparison Noland, who I found to be a very interesting sculpture in
those days but seemed to have been convinced by Caro that he should stick to
painting had far less to loose and may have been able to do it. I don't know
if he ever did.

As general observation both artists seemed to be almost hyperactive, Smith's
metal pile one moment, then rebuilding the old Caro, then off to a young
sculptor's studio, Caro had a habit of carrying a camera with him and taking
photos of this work, I know I felt quite relieved that I lived in Australia
too far for Caro to drop into from time to time, as I felt that far too many
of the young steel sculptor's inventions seemed to be turning up in the next
batch of Caro's for my liking, maybe I was just a little paranoid.

Then off to see Isaac Witkin's latest piece and so the couple of days
rocketed along.

I don't think my idea for the Smith metal pile was really appreciated, weld
it together just as it lay there, as it may have looked far too much like
something one of the minimalist would have thrown together, and , neither
Caro or Noland would have had anything to do with that.

Best regards Clive

Web: www.cowwarr.com