paint by number
2014
While studying under Robert Zakarian, he passionately stressed to never make or bring two things to his class: macramé and balloon art. Thinking about his advice for many years, I finally wanted to find out why this was art etiquette. From Zak's disdain arose paint by number - a celebration of found objects, unintentional outcomes, and non-art objects.
macramé
28" x 20"
1979, 2014
1 of 2 art things Robert Zakarian said to never make.
balloon
10" x 10"
2014
2 of 2 art things Robert Zakarian said to never make.
balloons
10" x 10" x 10"
2014
2 of 2 art things Robert Zakarian said to never make.
charcoal, artist sketch board
28" x 36"
2014
spray paint on cardboard
39" x 51"
2014
paper, masking tape
24" x 36"
2014
pink paper
25" x 16.5"
© Bruce Nauman 1974
© Carl Sweets 2014
Original Text:
Body Pressure
Press as much of the front surface of
your body (palms in or out, left or right check)
against the wall as possible.
Press very hard and concentrate.
Form an image of yourself (suppose you
had just stepped forward) on the
opposite side of the wall pressing
back against the wall very hard.
Press very hard and concentrate on the
image pressing very hard.
(the image of pressing very hard)
Press your front surface and back surface
toward each other and begin to ignore or block the thickness of the wall. (remove the wall)
Think how various parts of your body
press against the wall; press had and
feel how the front and back of your
body press together.
Concentrate on tension in the muscles,
pain where bones meet, fleshy deformations
that occur under pressure; consider
body hair, perspiration, odors (smells).
This may become a very erotic exercise.
archival ink jet print
30" x 20"
1968, 2014
photographer unknown