The Magic Box.
I haven't had a chance to mention the magical tour of the Fales Library and Special Collections that members of the Creative Council were given the night of the Jenny Holzer reception at NYU. Marvin Taylor, the director of the Fales Collection, opened box after box of wonder for us: art, letters, and other items from the library's extensive archive of the 1970's and 1980's downtown NY art, music, and performance scene. One of the first things that he shared with us was the original floor plans for legendary Times Square Show. It was like seeing a map for the next 25 years of American art.
Other highlights were photographs by Martin Wong, punk rock handbills and zines, and an abundance of important items that belonged to David Wojnarowicz.
Oh, my. The David Wojnarowicz materials. Seriously. Now we were swimming. We saw the mask Wojnarowicz used for his Rimbaud series, and large prints of his deeply moving photographs of Peter Hujar on his way out of this world. So, we were already breathless when Taylor pulled out Wonarowicz's "Magic Box", a wooden box with "The Magic Box" inscribed on the top. Inside were some of the artist's most precious trinkets and toys that were the inspiration for his daring career.
Before we left, Taylor showed us what might be the funniest 10 minutes of American television ever recorded. It was footage of John Sex being interviewed on CNN by a news commentator that was as propped up as Sex's pompadour. I think I might have hurt myself laughing. It was an irreverent end to an evening of looking inside art that defined irreverence.
Other highlights were photographs by Martin Wong, punk rock handbills and zines, and an abundance of important items that belonged to David Wojnarowicz.
Oh, my. The David Wojnarowicz materials. Seriously. Now we were swimming. We saw the mask Wojnarowicz used for his Rimbaud series, and large prints of his deeply moving photographs of Peter Hujar on his way out of this world. So, we were already breathless when Taylor pulled out Wonarowicz's "Magic Box", a wooden box with "The Magic Box" inscribed on the top. Inside were some of the artist's most precious trinkets and toys that were the inspiration for his daring career.
Before we left, Taylor showed us what might be the funniest 10 minutes of American television ever recorded. It was footage of John Sex being interviewed on CNN by a news commentator that was as propped up as Sex's pompadour. I think I might have hurt myself laughing. It was an irreverent end to an evening of looking inside art that defined irreverence.
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