Exhibition Publication PDF

Master Bricoleur
VARUjAN BOGHOSIAN
Prepare d on the o cc asion of t he e x hi bi t i on
Var u jan Bog hos ian : Mas te r Br icol eu r
No vember 12 — Decembe r 2 3 2 0 1 5
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ISBN: 9 78-1-878607-3 6 - 2
Edited by Do ug las Wal l a
Biogr aphi c al No tes com p i l e d by K se n i a Te re st c he n k o v a
P h ot ogr aphy by K atr ina Ne u ma n n a n d El y se Ha r a r y
Arc h iv al P ho to g r aphs by Ma t t he w Wy soc k i , Ne w Ha mp s h ire
Book d esig n by K atr ina Ne u ma n n
Ty pef aces: Char lem agn e a n d Adobe C a sl on Pro
CHARIOT
f o r Va r u j a n B o g h o s i a n
I n t h i s i m a g e o f m y f r i e n d ’s s t u d i o,
where curiosity runs the shop, and you
can almost smell nostalgic dust
settling on the junk of lost mythologies,
t h e a r t i s t h i m s e l f s t a y s o u t o f v i e w.
Ye t a n y o n e c o u l d g u e s s
t h i s i s t h e m a g i c i a n’s p l a c e
from his collection of conical hats
and the sprawled puppets on a shelf,
the broken as well as the whole,
that have grown to resemble him,
or the other way round.
Butterflies, game boards, and bells,
strewn jacks and alphabet blocks,
s p i n d l e s , o l d m u s i c s c o r e s ­—
the litter spread from wall to wall.
If you could dig to the bottom,
you might expect to find
a c h i l d ’s p l u s h h e a r t ,
a shining agate eye.
Here everything waits to be renewed.
That horse-age wagon wheel
propped in the corner
against an empty picture-frame,
e v e n i n i t s s t a t e o f d i s r e p a i r,
minus three spokes,
looks poised for flight.
To m o r r o w, m a y b e , a t t h e c r a c k o f a w h i p
a flock of glittering birds will perch
on its rim, a burnished stranger
wearing an enigmatic mask
will mount its hub
and the great battered wheel
will start to spin.
STANLEY KUNITZ
A
n exemplar of the art of bricolage for the past
six decades, we are pleased to present the work
o f Va r u j a n B o g h o s i a n ( b . 1 9 2 6 ) .
The term coined
by Claude Levi-Strauss in The Savage Mind (1962),
exists in Frenc h with no English equivalent, and de-
scribes a high level of sophistication utilizing primitive materials and mythical thought.
As a practitioner of the modernist tradition of paste-
ups in the wake of John Heartfield and Max Ernst,
Va r u j a n B o g h o s i a n s p e a k s n o t o n l y w i t h t h i n g s , b u t
through the medium of found objects. By re-contex-
tualizing 100 years worth of found materials with
scissors and paste, time and context are re-exami n e d . B o g h o s i a n’s a p p r o a c h i s i n t u i t i v e a n d m e d i -
tative, dealing less with external social factors and
lending more focus to the materiality and history of
the object.
Fusion and juxtaposition are what sets
his work apart along with an acute understanding of
l i t e r a r y h i s t o r y, w h i l e h i s i n q u i s i t i v e n a t u r e i s w h a t
lends poetry to his constructions. His use of contradictory visual elements is sympathetic to Ernst but
the content he creates is all his own.
The Palet te, 2014
Ca s t bronz e and wo o d on S t e phe n Pa rr i sh’s p a l e t t e
27 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 5 1/2 i n .
9
B o g h o s i a n s h o w e d w i t h t h e l e g e n d a r y S t a b l e G a l l e r y,
f o u n d e d b y E l e a n o r Wa r d , c o n s i s t e n t l y b e t w e e n 1 9 6 3
to 1966. At this time, the Stable Gallery showcased
established and emerging artists including: Joseph
C o r n e l l , A l e x K a t z , M a r i s o l E s c o b a r, J o a n M i t c h e l l ,
I s a m u N o g u c h i , C y Tw o m b l y, R o b e r t R a u s c h e n b e r g ,
a n d L a r r y R i v e r s a s w e l l a s A n d y Wa r h o l ’s f i r s t o n e m a n s h o w. T h e u n o r t h o d o x a n d e x p e r i m e n t a l s p i r i t
of this time has remained with Boghosian and in-
formed his developing relationship with the appropriation of ever yday objects and their subsequent
plastic manipulations.
In 1968, Boghosian began to exhibit with the hist o r i c C o r d i e r & E k s t r o m G a l l e r y, D u c h a m p ’s d e a l e r
in America. It was an ideal fit for Boghosian, as
A r n e E k s t r o m’s d i s t i n c t i v e s t y l e f a v o r e d t h e u n i o n
of art and literature. Cordier & Ekstrom put on
far-reaching shows that gave the same attention to
world-renowned artists as it did to those who were
just emerging. Morris Louis and Noguchi were some
of the artists who frequented the galler y and it was
T he M agicia n’s APR ON , 2 0 1 4
Work a p ron , woode n m a r ione tte h a nd ,
c hi l d ’s ma g i c f l u t e, a nd pa pe r s n a ke
4 5 x 2 2 1 / 2 x 6 1 / 4 in.
12
w h e r e R o m a r e B e a r d e n h o n e d h i s s t y l e . T h e g a l l e r y ’s
circulating exhibition roster included such promi-
nent names as D ubuffet, Saul Steinberg, and Magritte. Boghosian developed a long-standing rela-
tionship with Arne Ekstrom and exhibited with the
gallery well into the late 1980s.
B o g h o s i a n ’s w o r k b e g a n t o b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e t h e matic exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, the
Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago as early as 1954.
He has also
received numerous gr ants inc luding a Fulbr ight, a
G u g ge n h e i m Fe l l ow s h i p, t h e Am e r i c a n Ac ad e m y i n
Rome where he was in residence with Philip Guston,
and he has been an active member of the American
Academy of Arts and Letters for the past 30 years.
His presence as a teacher has included the Cooper
U n i o n , N e w Yo r k ( 1 9 5 9 - 6 4 ) , Ya l e U n i v e r s i t y ( 1 9 6 2 64), Brown and Dartmouth College (1968-96).
THE JUG G LER , ci rc a 1 9 9 0
Ca s t bronz e, steel, fabr ic, a n d a bacu s
27 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 5 1/2 i n .
17
T hree Y el l o w Ob j e cts , 1 9 9 8
Wo o d c ons tr u c tion
2 8 1 /2 x 20 1 / 4 x 5 1 / 2 in.
18
FOUR Wh ite Objects , 2 0 0 8
Wood constr ucti on
29 3/4 x 20 x 5 1/4 i n.
19
T he Mu s ic M ak e r , 1 9 8 0
Pa p e r col l a ge on a rc hi te c tu r a l b l u e pr int
2 8 3 / 4 x 1 9 5 / 8 in.
20
Tight R op e Walker, ci rc a 2 0 0 0
V inta ge c hildren’s toy an d st r i n g on p a i n t e d sa n de d c ha l kb o a rd
35 1/2 x 25 1/4 x 2 3/4 i n .
21
M aqu et t e F or V e s pe rs , 2 0 0 6
Pa pe r c o l l a ge
1 8 3 / 4 x 2 1 in.
22
Ves pers, 2006
L ith ogr aph and mar bled book p a p e r
21 x 24 1/2 in.
23
T h e B r i de , 2 0 1 4
C ol l age on s il ve r pr int
2 1 x 1 7 in.
24
The Br i de Vanish es , 2 0 1 2
H and -sanded toned sil ve r p r i n t
20 3/4 x 16 3/4 in.
25
B ride & G r oom , 2 0 1 2
Ha n d- sa n de d f ou n d c h a rc o a l d r a w in g
2 3 5 / 8 x 1 8 3 / 4 in.
26
The Minister ’s Bl ack V eil , 2 0 1 2
Col la ge on f o und c harcoa l dr a w i n g
22 5/8 x 18 5/8 in.
27
A m eric a n B ouqu e t, 1 9 9 7
Anti q u e w hi sk e y st r a w s, oi l , a n d n a il s on wo o d pa n e l
2 8 x 19 3 / 4 x 3 1 / 2 in.
30
Hom ag e to Lou i s e B o ga n, 2 0 1 5
L et t er blo c k on c ar ved wood p a n e l
25 1/4 x 20 3/4 x 2 i n.
31
F rag m e n t, 2 0 0 9
C ol l a ge on f o u nd wo o d pa ne l
1 6 x 2 2 3 / 4 x 3 in .
32
Twen ty Doll ar B il l , 2 0 1 0
Currenc y and bo ok co ve r
13 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 1 1/4 i n .
33
F iv e D ol l ars , 2 0 0 9
C u rre n c y a n d c o l l a ge on pa pe r
1 6 1 /4 x 18 3 / 4 x 1 1 / 4 in.
34
Currenc y, 2006
Col la ge and cur renc y on book co ve r
14 3/4 x 17 1/4 in.
35
Fat her of Ou r Cou n try, 2 0 1 0
C u rre n c y a n d p a p e r col l a ge in u n iqu e fr a m e
2 2 1 / 2 x 1 9 1 / 2 in.
36
Ups tairs, Downs ta irs , 1 9 9 7
Ink and co l lage on p ap e r
20 7/8 x 16 7/8 in.
37
Cu rrency (Ne s t E g g ) , 2 0 0 6
C ol l a ge a n d cu rre n c y on b o ok c o ve r
1 8 x 1 5 1 / 2 in.
38
In & Ou t, 2014
Col la ge
21 1/4 x 17 1/2 in.
39
Silence, 2011
Ha n d- sa n de d f ou n d c h a rc o a l d r a w in g
2 3 3 / 4 x 1 9 3 / 4 in.
40
Voyag er , 2015
H and -sanded f o und c harcoa l dr a w i n g
10 1/2 x 9 i n.
41
A Rena is s a nce Pu z z l e , 2 0 0 8
C ol l a ge on ha n d- sa n de d f ou n d c h a rc o a l d r a w ing
2 1 1 / 4 x 1 7 3 / 4 in.
42
S e l f P ortrai t as A L ion, 2 0 0 6
Paper co l lage on f o und c ha rcoa l dr a w i n g
21 x 16 1/2 in.
43
No t ice to a n Arti s t, 2 0 1 3
L a be l on f o u n d d o c u m e nt
1 7 1 / 1 6 x 2 1 in.
44
Chil d’s P u n- ish m ent , 2 0 1 3
Found w r i ti ng exercise
21 x 17 in.
45
Ro s e S a i l L a V i e , 2 0 1 3
C ol l a ge on f o u n d l ith o g r a ph
2 1 1 / 4 x 1 7 1 / 4 in.
46
Vincen t, 2006
Col la ge on hand-sanded f ou n d c ha rcoa l dr a w i n g
26 x 21 1/2 in.
47
L A N D ’S E N D , 2 0 1 4
Fo u nd d r a w in g
2 1 1 / 4 x 1 7 1 / 4 in.
48
For C arti er Br es s on, 2 0 1 1
Col la ge on naval station e r y
18 7/8 x 15 1/2 in.
49
Comb at, 2 0 1 2
Pa p e r col l a ge on pa in te d b o a rd
1 5 x 1 9 in.
50
The L adder , 2013
Paper co l lage
21 1/4 x 17 1/4 in.
51
Ja m es Joyce in D u b l i n , 2 0 0 3
C ol l a ge on ha n d- co l o re d ph o to g r a ph
1 6 1 / 4 x 1 7 3 / 4 in.
52
K ing of Wh istle rs , 2 0 1 3
Paper co l lage on str uc k l i t hog r a ph
21 x 16 7/8 in.
53
X, 2 0 0 9
C u rre n c y a n d c o l l a ge on pa pe r
1 7 1 /2 x 21 1 / 2 x 1 3 / 4 in.
54
Mr. X , 2014
Paper co l lage on sheet mu si c
21 1/2 x 17 1/2 in.
55
Draw n & Quarte r e d
C ol l a ge on r u l e d pa pe r
2 1 x 1 7 in .
56
A nton io M an c i ni as F red Hil l , 1 9 9 3
Paper co l lage
16 1/2 x 20 1/4 in.
57
Hom age to S ta nl e y K u n i tz, 2 0 1 0
Pa p e r c o l l a ge on l ine n
2 3 3 / 4 x 3 0 5 / 8 in.
58
Select Biography
VARUjAN BOGHOSIAN
b. 1926, New Britain, Connecticut
— EDUCATION —
1956-59
1944-46
B.F.A., M.F.A., Yale Universit y S c hool of
Ar t and Arc hitecture, Ne w Haven, CT
Militar y S er vice in the United S tates Navy
— A W A R D S ­—
1991
S aint Botolph Club Foundation Award
1986
Elected member, Amer ic an Ac ademy
Institute of Ar ts and L etters
1985
John S imon G uggenheim Memor ial
Foundation Fel lowship
1975
Amer ic an Ac ademy in Rome
1972
Amer ic an Ac ademy of Ar ts and L etters
1968
Ar tist in Residence, Dar tmouth Col lege,
Hano ver, NH
1966-67
Amer ic an Ac ademy in Rome
1966
Howard Foundation Fel lowship
1961
U.S. Depar tment Gr ant
1953
Fulbr ight Gr ant f or Painting, Ital y
— SELECTED EXHIBITIONS —
2013
2004
2001
1992
1989
1988
Toledo Museum of Ar t, Toledo, OH
Joan Washbur n, Ne w York
The P icture Gal ler y at S aint-Gaudens
National Histor ic S ite, Cor nish, NH
David W inton Bel l Gal ler y, Brown
Universit y, Pro vidence, RI
Nor ton Gal ler y of Ar t, Palm Beac h, FL
Var ujan Boghosian: A Retrospective. Hood
Museum of Ar t, Hano ver, NH
Var ujan Boghosian: A Retrospective.
Curr ier Gal ler y of Ar t, Manc hester, NH
Aldr ic h Museum of Contempor ar y Ar t,
Ridgefield, CT
The Centur y Association, Ne w York
1987
Cordier & Ekstrom, Ne w York
Center Gal ler y, Buc knel l Universit y,
L e wisberg, PA
1986
Amer ic an Ac ademy, Rome
1986
Ne wl y Elected Members. Amer ic an
Ac ademy Institute of Ar ts and L etters, NY
1982
Cordier & Ekstrom, Ne w York
1980
F ine Ar ts Work Center, Pro vincetown, MA
Cordier & Ekstrom, Ne w York
P hiladelphia Col lege of Ar t,
P hiladelphia, PA
1978-88
L ong Point Gal ler y, Pro vincetown, MA
1970
The Ar ts Club of Chic ago, I L
1968
Hopkins Center, Dar tmouth Col lege,
Hano ver, NH
Curr ier Gal ler y of Ar t, Manc hester, NH
Universit y of Massac husetts, Boston
1968
W hitne y Museum Annual, Ne w York
1966-1988 Cordier & Ekstrom Gal ler y, Ne w York
1966
Twel ve Yale Ar tists. Yale Universit y S c hool
of Ar t and Arc hitecture, Ne w Haven, Conn
The Found O bject. The Instit ute of
Contempor ar y Ar t, Boston, MA
Contempor ar y S culpture from the
Howard Lipman Col lection. W hitne y
Museum of Amer ic an Ar t, NY
The Rober t and Helen Benjamin
Col lection. Yale Universit y Ar t Gal ler y,
Ne w Haven, CT
1965
Contempor ar y Boxes and Wal l S culpture.
The Rhode Island S c hool Museum, RI
Four S culptors. Yale Universit y S c hool of
Ar t and Arc hitecture, Ne w Haven, CT
The Eleanor Ward Col lection. The Ly man
1964
1963-66
1951
1950-65
Al l y n Museum, Ne w L ondon, CT
Annual Exhibition: Contempor ar y
Amer ic an S culpture. W hitne y Museum of
Amer ic an Ar t, NY
S table Gal ler y, NY
DeCordo va Museum, Lincoln, MA
S wetz off Gal ler y, Boston, MA
— SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY —
A ssemblages by Var ujan Boghosian. Chic ago: Ar ts Club
of Chic ago, Detroit: J.L. Hudson Gal ler y, 1970.
Adr ian, Dennis. A r t f or um. Febr uar y 1967.
Anderson, Alexandr ia. “Arc hitectur al Col lages of Var ujan
Boghosian. ” A r t Wor ld, 18 Januar y 1979: p. 1.
Andre, Mic hael. “ Ne w York Re vie ws. ” A r t Ne ws,
Febr uar y 1976: p. 110.
Ashton, Dore. “ Por tr ait of the Ar tist as Lite r ature. ”
St udio Inte r national, Apr il 1965: pp. 168-171.
Battcoc k, Gregor y. A r ts Magazine. Febr uar y 1969.
Boc hner, Mel. A r ts Magazine. Febr uar y 1966 .
Boghosian, Var ujan. O r pheus. Yale Universit y S c hool of
Ar t and Gr aphic Design Progr am. Ne w Haven, CT: 1957.
Buc kle y, Char les E. Recent D ra wings and Wate r colors.
Boston: R .M. Light & Co., 1962
Bur nside, Madeleine. “ Ne w York Re vie ws. ” A r t Ne ws,
Apr il 1979: p. 144.
Bur ton, S cott. A r t Ne ws, December 1966.
Busa, Chr istopher. “ Var ujan Boghosian: The Ar tist as
O r pheus. ” P r o vinceto wn A r ts, 2009: pp. 34-42.
Canaday, John. “ Found O bjects P ut To Imaginative Uses. ”
Ne w York Magazine, 18 December 1965: p. 19.
Der fner, P hy l lis. “ Ne w York L etter. ” A r t Inte r national,
Febr uar y 1974: p. 48.
Dot y, Rober t M., Var ujan Boghosian: A Ret r ospective.
Ne w Hampshire: Hood Museum Of Ar t,
Dar tmouth Col lege, 1989.
Esplund, L ance. “Ar t That Defies Definition. ”
Wall St r eet Jour nal, Januar y 2010.
Fr ank, Peter. “ Re vie ws and Pre vie ws. ” A r t Ne ws, Febr uar y
1974: p. 100.
Galassi, S usan Gr ace. “Ar ts Re vie ws. ” A r ts Magazine,
Marc h 1979: p. 26.
Goodman, Jonatha n. “ Var ujan Boghosian at Joan
Washbur n. ” A r t In A me r ic a, December 2004.
Gr ubin, John. “Ar t in Ne w York. ” Ne w York Magazine,
10 Marc h 1965: p. 60.
Har t, Jeffre y. “ The V irgil of Things. ” Nation al Re vie w,
October 1989.
Kimmelman, Mic hael. “ Uptown, No vices and Moder n
Masters. ” Ne w York T imes, 26 Febr uar y 1988.
Kind, Joshua. “Chic ago. ” A r t Ne ws, Marc h 1970: p. 22.
Kind, Joshua. “ The My th Maker. ” T ime Magazine, 9
Febr uar y 1970: p. 54.
Knobler, Nathan. Collages, Const r uctions, Sculpt ur e.
P hiladelphia: P hiladelphia Col lege of Ar t, 1980.
Preston, S tuar t. Ne w York T imes, 6 December 1964.
Reiter, Mark. “ Found O bjects Inspire ‘sculptor-assembler ’
Var ujan Boghosian. ” Bla de, 26 Januar y 2014.
R ussel l, John. “Ar t: A Beaut y That Refuses t o F linc h. ”
Ne w York T imes, 5 Januar y 1979: p. C17.
R ussel l, John. “Ar t: A Builder W ith A Gr and Design. ”
Ne w York T imes, 2 December 1977: p. C17.
___________. “ From the Poetic To the Oppressive. ”
Ne w York T imes, 7 December 1975.
___________. “Ar t: In S how of Ne w Noland Paintings,
Consistenc y Takes Unexpected For ms. ”
Ne w York T imes, 22 No vember 1975.
S mith, Nicola. “ Fodder f or His Fascinations. ” Valle y
Ne ws , 22 Marc h 2015.
Tur ner, Nor man. “Ar ts Re vie ws. ” A r ts Magazine,
Marc h 1978: p. 29.
Var ujan Boghosian. Ne w York: S table Gal ler y, 1964.
Var ujan Boghosian. Ne w York: Cordier & Ekstrom, 1971
Var ujan Boghosian. Ne w York: Cordier & Ekstrom, 1973.
Var ujan Boghosian: Collages. Ne w York: Cordier
& Ekstrom, 1979.
Var ujan Boghosian: Const r uctions/Collages. Ne w York:
Cordier & Ekstrom, 1980
Var ujan Boghosian: Const r uctions. Ne w York: Cordier &
Ekstrom, 1982.
Var ujan Boghosian: Const r uctions. Ne w York: Cordier &
Ekstrom, 1984
Var ujan Boghosian: Const r uctions. Ne w York: Cordier &
Ekstrom, 1987.
W ilkin, K aren. “At The Gal ler ies. ” Hudson Re vie w, Vol
LXI I I, No. 1, S pr ing 2010.
W ilkin, K aren. “Altered S tates: Var ujan Boghosian at the
Toledo Museum of Ar t. ” Wall St r eet Jour nal, 7
May 2014.
Wooster, Anne-S argent. “ Ne w York Re vie ws. ” A r t Ne ws,
Febr uar y 1978: p. 148.
— PUBLIC COLLECTIONS —
Ad d is on G al ler y o f Am e r i c a n Ar t, P h i l l i p s Ac ademy, MA
A lbr i gh t- K nox Ar t G a l l e r y, N Y
A l l e ntow n Ar t Mu se u m , PA
B o c a R a ton M u se u m o f Ar t, F L
T h e B o ston M u se u m o f F i ne Ar ts, MA
T h e B ro ok l y n Mu se u m , N Y
U n ivers it y A r t Mu se u m , U ni ve r s i t y o f C a l i f or nia, CA
C le ve l a nd Mu se u m o f Ar t, OH
T h e C u r r i e r G a l l e r y o f Ar t, N H
D avis on A r t C e nte r, We sl e y a n U ni ve r s i t y, CT
Detro i t I ns ti tu te o f Ar ts, MI
H o o d M us eu m o f Ar t, D a r tm o u th C o l l e ge, N H
H o pk in s C e nte r, D a r tm o u th C o l l e ge, N H
Her b er t F. J oh n s on M u se u m o f Ar t, C o r ne l l U n iversit y, N Y
Hono l u l u Ac ad e m y o f Ar ts , H I
I n dia na p o l i s M u se u m o f Ar t, I N
U n ivers it y o f K e ntu c k y Ar t Mu se u m , KY
U n ivers it y G a l l e r y, U M A a t Am h e r st, MA
T he M a tta tu c k Mu se u m , C T
T h e M e tro p o l i ta n M u se u m o f Ar t, NY
M us eum o f A r t, R h o d e I s l a nd S c h o o l o f D esign, RI
M u se u m o f M o d e r n Ar t, N Y
Ne w B r it a i n Mu se u m o f Am e r i c a n Ar t, CT
T h e Ne w Yo rk P u b l i c L i b r a r y, N Y
T h e Ne w a rk Mu se u m , N J
Ne u b e r ge r Mu se u m , N Y
No r ton G a l l e r y o f Ar t, F L
P h ilad e l ph i a M u se u m o f Ar t, PA
P h o e ni x Ar t Mu se u m , AZ
Pro vin c et own Ar t Asso ci a ti on a nd Mu se um, MA
R o s e A r t M u se u m , B r a nd e i s U ni ve r s i t y, MA
To l e d o M u se u m o f Ar t, OH
Vas s a r C o l l e ge Ar t G a l l e r y, N Y
W h it n e y M u se u m o f Am e r i c a n Ar t, N Y
W il liam s C o l l e ge M u se u m o f Ar t, M A
Wo rce ste r Ar t Mu se u m , M A
Yale University Art Gallery, CT