Page 80 - Studio International - September October 1975

this early evening, I'd like to
Canada leave you with some specific
definitions other than Don's
nearby and above. They are
drawn mostly from Ambrose
The following address was Bierce's6 'The Devil's Dictionary'
delivered by Dan Flavin in the concluded in 1911 ... for
Auditorium of the National President Gerald R. Ford,
Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, on 'Amnesty, noun. The state's
23 May, to officially open Don magnanimity to those offenders
Judd's retrospective exhibition whom it would be too expensive
to punish.' (And my dear
In January of 1790, Gouverneur Canadian and Canadien friends,
Morris wrote to President usually rest assured that there's so
George Washington, 'I think it of much more interestingly going on
very great importance to fix the in that American Republic than
taste of our country properly, and the likes of Jerry Ford could
I think your examples will go very allow. And, by the way, we're
far in that respect. it is therefore here tonight to prove it.)
my wish that everything about ... 'Painting, noun. The art of
you should be substantially good protecting flat surfaces from the
and majestically plain, made to weather and exposing them to
endure.' the critic.'
When Brydon1 telephoned to ...'Minimal, adjective. Least,
ask me to come to say some particularly thus when put to
opening words to you, of course, modify the noun, art, as a
I was pleased but, quite properly convenient but baseless critical
I replied that he might really epithet contrived to denigrate the
prefer someone better able, say, certainly contemporary and
by articulate thought or critically consternating arts of
institutional role, or even, Donald Judd. Its initial
surprisingly, both, but alas, no,. spokesperson is already
therefore, you lose. But maximally forgotten.' ... And
nevertheless, when I was last here now, back to the best of that
for another such opening as this bastard, Bierce!
one, Brydon, Terry McGowen2 of ...'Man, noun. An animal so
G.E., the late Guy Viau,3 Jean,' lost in rapturous contemplation of
again, sad to say, the late Barney what he thinks he is as to
Newman and I, finished our overlook what he indubitably
talking within about twenty-eight, ought to be. His chief occupation
mostly easy minutes. At the outset is extermination of other animals
then, I declare that I'm prepared and his own species, which,
to shut up in a matter of moments, however, multiplies with such
give or take a few, which ought insistent rapidity as to infest the
still to be `a crowd pleaser' (not a uninteresting act, merely gestural internally, polished and whole habitable earth and
teaser). steels. The man's sense of media unpolished copper. Too often to Canada.'
Look, if I had to talk for too selection and hierarchic Anthony, colour has become just ...'Congratulation, noun. The
long, I might climax like a bawl ing sculptural compositional an apparently arbitrary civility of envy.'
Edmund Muskie, for I'd go that arrangement belong basically to a application on steel of an overall Congratulations, Jean;
sentimental about my big red Continental European past. And slick skin. Should it be a coat congratulations, Brydon;
friend, Donald Clarence, and all to have lowered the sight line of flashy cad. red light this congratulations, Don, for, the
that he's thought to issue as arts of the Picasso - Gonzalez - morning or, perhaps, a deep fine assertive exposition (with an
these several years that we've Smith et al. tradition doesn't ultramarine blue bath after absolute feat of a catalogue)
probably convinced and pleased impress me as an engaging claim dinner? Parenthetically, from which we are about to examine by
each other. And by now, I'm to new sculptural fame. what I've heard and read ourselves, is a very great tribute to
unambiguously convinced that The mature Don Judd has not recently, Clem has finally enjoined you three.
each of you is about to be adopted those post-potential, his Tony to abjure plain profane Thank you. Merci. Good night.
confronted with quite a lot of the historical influences in any modernist colourist gloss for an Bon nuit.
very best constructed and reasonably comparable way. He's earlier looking, high holier And now, I get the privilege of
assembled arts ever produced in proposed his own new art. He 'natural' varnish. introducing to you, my favourite
this New World. doesn't have to play around or And so, here, today, mastermind, a guy whom, as
Don's efforts really do rate that emotionally compose following some solitary Brydon and I have, you ought to
well. (And I've not forgotten dear figuratively. Don declares meditation, I call upon the try to get to know better, Don
David Smith's considerable preplanned geometric designs heavens, to you, David Smith, to Judd.
sculpture.) And of our Old which, so often, are simple and smite the repetitiously Dan Flavin
World contemporaries, who might straightforward in all aspects. immodest, heretical, reversionist
even want to compare his or her For instance, when he modernist anti-Christ Clem. Well,
output with Don's? Anthony approaches ground work, Don after all he's done from a
Caro, you readily reply. No! defines whole absolute objects position of posthumous trust to
That's nonsense ! I've recently specifically geometrically eradicate the real you and yours,
witnessed that man's extended manufactured in varied materials Lil' David, at least, you could 1 Brydon Smith, Curator of
even attenuated embarrassment in stable respect to their intrinsic singe his old hairy ass with one Contemporary Art at the National
of an exhibition in New York's relative gravity. And neither Jeremiah justifiable thunderbolt. Gallery of Canada.
An electrical engineer employed
Museum of Modern Art. No symbolism nor psychology need Well now, where was I ... oh in public relations for the General
amount of Clem Greenberged be exemplified therein. yes, 'prepared to shut up in a Electric Company, Nela Park,
cultivation and Bill Rubinized Therefore, untitled is utterly matter of moments ...' But just Ohio, who spoke on the history
sanctification (and so slick re-nu- unnecessary. And when he wants a bit before that, I'd like to add to of electric light into fluorescent light
for Flavin's National Gallery of
enamelling all over the place) it, ordinarily or intensified or both Don's and Brydon's several Canada opening in 1969.
could dissuade this old boy from ways simultaneously or by thanksgivings here. For Don and 3 Late Vice Director of the National
even his Late Sixties rejection of contrast, colour for Don is a me, especially, I thank Giuseppe Gallery of Canada.
Jean Boggs, Director of the
Suddenly St Anthony's already fundamental completion or Panza di Biumo for his unique National Gallery of Canada.
too prayed over and canted about, extension of his whole patronage of our arts. (I know Leo Castelli.
Olde English, Cubo-comic, light concentration. He can establish that Count Panza wanted very 'The late Ambrose Bierce was a
weighty, figurative style of oh so the simply rigorous appearance of much to join us tonight but, hearty American sarcastic and
many not nearly low down galvanized iron alone or arrange instead, had to return to Milan.) fictionalist' (Dan Flavin).
enough, posed, welded and an absolutely gorgeous (And Leo,5 you know how we
enamelled frolicsome'i' beams juxtaposition of cadmium red both feel about you.)
accompanied by theTest of his light enamel to illuminate Before I finally leave you alone
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