 |
 |
----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Thanks to all for your quick response to my query regarding the Chaim Sountine catalogue raisonne. To those who expressed concern about someone purchasing a book just to cut it up, I knew I shouldn't have added that line to my message but I am reminded of the following 60's happening: "John Latham, b.1921, lives in London, ART & CULTURE evidence, 1966/7. In August 1966, because of the persuasive power of the book among students, and its provocative title, John Latham withdrew the copy of Clement Greenberg's ART & CULTURE from the library of the St. Martin's School of Art. An event, STILL & CHEW, was organized with Barry Flanagan. Invited students, critics, artists selected a page each to chew: the product was spat into a flask. About a third of the book was consumed. Chewed pages were later immersed in 30% Sulfuric Acid and converted to sugar, then neutralized by sodium bicarbonate. Next an Alien Culture was introduced-a yeast-and the solution bubbled for several months. At the end of May '67, Mr. Latham received a card marked VERY URGENT asking that the book be returned to the library of the school (where he had been a part time instructor for several years). The solution was distilled, put in a glass container and returned to the Librarian: a few minutes were required to persuade her that this was indeed the book referred to on the card. The next morning a letter arrived from the principal of St. Martin's saying that Mr. Latham was not to teach there anymore." Better our curator cut up her own copy of the book than return ours in a glass jar. I agree color copies are better than cutting up a book and the exhibition designer may end up doing that anyway. Thanks, Mona Chapin Cincinnati Art Museum [log in to unmask]