Transparency, Reflection, Light, Space
de Leah Mackin, Womens Studio Workshop Staff, Artists Books Collection (Library of Congress) Staff
"Created in response to a 1971 exhibition catalog interview with the artist, Larry Bell, in which prior to publication Bell removed the vowels from his interview responses. My response to the work presents the remaining vowels, while exploring Bell's gesture, the abstraction of language, and the research process through imagery and material exploration. Initially, I read Bell's obfuscated responses as inherently gendered in the context of masculinity in the art historical legacy of Minimalism. It is defiant, brusque and, when read aloud, what remains are unpronounceable, guttural noises. My response to the work presents the remaining vowels, as a sort of harmonic vocalization, since vowels give shape and rounded-out sound to the English language"--Book artist's website. "... Photocopied, sewn, and bound, Leah's book unfolds in two parts, a response and call. Between the sections, she offers readers a brief editorial note and leaves them to their own investigation.