ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG.

This weeks reading was all about Robert Rauschenberg.  Out of all the artists we have read and studied about so far, I found Rauschenberg most interesting.  I feel his naive nature that is spoken about a lot creates an interesting persona for an artists, somewhat unusual actually.  The chapter starts off telling that unlike other artists, Rauschenberg "feels personally responsible when his work is misunderstood" (189). I found that really interesting because unlike Duchamp, who believes there is two parts to the meaning of art (the artist and the viewer), Rauschenberg has a specific message he wants to convey to his viewers.  Interestingly enough, at one of his shows, a woman questioned him why he was only interested in ugly things, in which he proceded to have a conversation on the topic of "ugly".  I found his explanation about the outfit the woman was wearing pretty humorous.  Anyways, Rauschenberg has many achievements, one major one being the grand prize for painting at the Venice Biennale.  It had never before in 69 years been given to an American painter. SICK! For his major talent, Dr Alan Soloman coined the term "the Old Master" of the new painting about Rauschenberg.  "Rauschenberg's only consistent trait as an artist has been to move on, once he has explored an area, into fresh and astounding new terrain." (192).  Anyways, he was first inspired by paintings when going to the Navy boot camp in Farragut, Idaho in 1942.  Then he decided to go to the Kansas City Art Institute.  However, he found more knowledge in his outside jobs at the time.  He managed to then get a show at the Betty Parsons in the spring time.  She commented on him, "I could see right away that he was on his own tangent- that he wasn't influenced by anyone else" (202).  I found that pretty interesting.  He then paired up with Cage, who we read about last sunday.  Their differences, Cage's many "arduous mental journeys" and Rauschenberg's guide by "instinct and direct apprehension" made a good pair.  Their silent piano piece and the white painting are said to be influenced by the same spirit.  Some of his other achievements include the Dante drawings and the group show "Sixteen Americans".  Something kind of ironic I found in the reading, Rauschenberg has had stage fright since he has been a kid.