DELFORD BROWN Robert
(Portland 1930 - Cape Fear River in Wilmington 2009)
Notes on The Great Building Crack-up
Luogo: New York
Editore: edizione a cura dell'autore
Stampatore: senza indicazione dello stampatore
Anno: s.d. [1972]
Legatura: volantino stampato al solo recto
Dimensioni: 28x21,7 cm.
Pagine: N. D.
Descrizione: un disegno dell'autore n.t., stampa in bianco e nero. Il testo racconta la storia dell'acquisizione e del riadattamenbto dell'edificio da parte dell'autore. Volantino originale.
Bibliografia: N. D.
Prezzo: € 120ORDINA / ORDER
Testo: "The Great Building Crack-Up is a long range project begun by artist Robert Delford Brown in 1967. Subtitled «an archiutectural improvisation» it is an actual collision between a 19th century building and a 20th century building; the artist acted as catalyst. He insists that through past experience he ha learned that he was poor at normal collaboration and decided his best chance of success in this important area of endeavor would come from collaborating a dead architect with a live architect. The original red brick structure was designed by prominent 19th century architect Richard Morris Hunt, who is remembered for the original Metropolitan Museum and the base of the Statue of Liberty. Commissioned by the Vanderbilt family as a gift to the city of New York, it was opened as a library in 1887 abd served the public as the «Jackson Square Branch» for seventy years.Sold by the city early in 1967, the building came up for resale later that year, when it was acquired by the present owner. Delford Brown then commissioned major 20th century architect Paul Rudolph to creat, within the original structure, the permanent home for his «First National Church of the Exquisite Panic, Inc.», as well as studio and living quarters. By spring of 1970 the work had finally reached the stage where the artist and his wife could move in, and the following year «The Grat Building Crack-Up Gallery» was opened to the public, bringing phase 1 of the project to a close. Documentation is now in process, consisting of original architectural drawings, photographs, correspondence, and models. Now in phase 2, the upper levels are being transformed by Robert Delford Brown into «The Temple of Hilarity». To quote from his biographical notes: «It will be completed in 1982, at which time a hole will be cut into the roof and the entire structure will be filled with concrete - making it the largest trompe-l'oeil sculpture in the world. It will then be given to the United States of America as a memorial to the unsung heroines of american history - the mistresses of american presidents». What the artist plans in the meantime, only he knows".
