this is a photo work based on a past work by Robt Smithson, which was included in an artist's multiples box in 1970. it was a picture of rubble torn in 4 quarters and put in a glassine envelope. I'm taking it a step further: steve reich, the composer, is a friend and lives in our bldg. the 4 organs of his famous "four Organs" piece are gathering dust in our basement. that piece meant the world to me at the time (also around 1970). I've photographed the stacked up organs and will do a similar torn print/glassine envelope and dedicate it to both men...


4/25/00
Hi Thomas,
I'm sorry all the preparations for the black box have been taking so long. I would like to describe my own proposal to you (it needs a bit of background):
My piece would be a photo-work, dedicated to two artists who have had a profound effect on me: Steve Reich and Robert Smithson. Here, first, is some background:

Steve Reich lives in the same building as we do, and we have become friendly. There is an early piece of his called "Four Organs" which has had a profound influence on me ever since I first heard it many years ago. If you haven't heard it then you should! Anyway, the 'four organs' used in this piece are in the basement of our building, stacked up now and collecting dust. They look beautiful there, and have a curious resonance for me whenever I see them. I have taken a picture of them, which for some time I have wanted to use in an artwork of some sort. I think I've finally figured out how.

In 1970 Robert Smithson (another influential and inspiring artist for me a syou probably know) contributed a piece to an artist's box edition multiple (much like our black box!) which was organized by gallerist Marion Goodman at the time under the label "Multiples, Inc". The box included artists such as Dan Graham, Smithon, Mel Bochner, Richard Serra and many others from the time. Smithsons piece was called "Torn Photograph" and was an image of construction rubble from one of his slideworks which he had torn in 4 quarters and packaged in a glassine envelope. I'm not sure the dimensions off hand but it's fairly large, like maybe 50x50 cm or so.

I propose to do a similar idea with the photo of the Reich organs. The nice thing is that the completed photo can actually be larger than the box, as it will be torn in quarters. I propose about 40x40 cm or so. One side would be printed completely with the photo of the organs, and on the other side just a small bit of information (title, etc) in the lower right corner (just as the original had).

What do you think? If this sounds good I can send you the photo and a layout to follow for it's creation. When I arrive in Ystad I will tear up the pictures and place in the glassine envelopes and then they will be ready for the box.

I don't know if this pleases you or not--let me know what you think.As an alternative--i was thinking of submitting a drawing I did in ink of Leah when she was pregnant which I thought would make a nice lithograph...

so, there are two ideas....

I am in London now for the Sonic Boom show installation and opening--did I tell you about it? I will send you the info... I am hoping that in the next weeks I will be able to work on the recordings of Mats, Thurston, Steve and me...

regards for now,
Lee Ranaldo