On display in the Library:
Tarnished: Freedom of Information Variations by James Wechsler
September 12 through
January 15, 2009
Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library
Victor Building
Room 2100
750 9th St., NW
Washington, DC
Based on documents from the FBI’s files on prominent artists and writers, this
series is meant to provoke viewers to consider the relationship between politics
and culture. In these works passages redacted by the censor’s marker were rendered
in silver leaf and treated with a chemical tarnishing agent. They will continue
to darken according to atmospheric and environmental conditions.
Image above
right:
James
Wechsler
Freedom of Information: Tarnishing Diego Rivera, 4.37
2008
Acrylic, India ink, and tarnishing silver leaf on paper
40" x 28"
Acquisitions news:
SAAM/NPG library is pleased to receive “The Chicano Collection : a school of American painting” a generous gift from the publisher, Modern Multiples. This portfolio brings together limited-edition giclée prints of original artwork in the private collection of Cheech Marin, along with essays, a catalog and a DVD. See http://www.thechicanocolletion.net for more information about the reproductions.
