Where does George Herms and his 1985 assemblage “Dream” fit in the continuum of 20th-century art and artists? After reading “The Nature of Art” by Armand Marie Leroi this morning, and after having a look at the Connect Vermeer website, I wondered whether a similar analysis could be done about Herms and “Dream.” I’m told the piece was recently acquired at auction.
The Wikipedia entry on Herms quotes the curator Walter Hopps, who “placed Herms on a dazzling continuum of assemblage artists that includes Picasso, Schwitters, Duchamp, Joseph Cornell, Wallace Berman, and Edward Kienholz. Any thoughts out there about narrowing that focus or changing it, say, to literature? For example, how about Delmore Schwartz’s well-known short story “In Dreams Begin Responsibility.”
I think the Wickyites have the correct lineage. I think responsibilities do often begin with dreams.
I’d be interested to know what you think of Armand Marie Leroi’s idea of the way art evolves (if you have time to read his article). It made a lot of sense to me:
“Evolution creates things that are causally connected by chains that reach, seemingly without end, into the past. In living things, the links are forged by the inheritance of genetic material; in culture, by influential ideas. The concepts are really the same: both describe the transmission of information from one individual to another, and both engender family trees.”
I believe that Walter Hopps overlooked Bruce Connor, a rather prolific multi-disciplinary artist, distinguished more than once by his involvements with assemblage.
I think the absence of Connor is quite conspicuous from his “… dazzling continuum of assemblage artists…”
I had difficulty with Connor. Herns and Berman seemed such craftsman, Herms still such a great craftsman but Connor seemed often elsewhere. By the way – has Jan had a copy of that great Canadian catalogue of your work? It is really quite amazing – a work of art in its own way. And gives a wonderful encounter with your work…really excellent!
Yes, I have a copy of “Oblique Trajectories,” the retrospective catalogue you mention of Gary Lee-Nova’s works, and I agree. It is everything you say. Here’s a small sample of it::
https://www.artsjournal.com/herman/2021/05/mixing-literature-media-theory-cartoons-and-science.html
Richard,
I seem to recall sending a copy of what the curator insisted was “A BOOK” to Jan.
Maybe my memory is foggy. I’ve been too ill to keep lists.
The curator steered around the convention of ‘art catalogues’ being collections of tiny monochrome reproductions and large prices.
As far as she was concerned, it’s a book about my work and about me.
And yes! Full agreement from me. The curator’s ‘book’ is a work of art.
It has been many years since I was treated with the kind of respect that the Curator showed my work and me.
Thank you for your kind comments on the survey exhibition of my work. It was very satisfying working with the Curator. I think it works as a survey but the gallery is small and probably couldn’t handle a retrospective of the kind of artwork I have done over the long term.
The surgery on my heart arteries was successful and the project will soon involve the replacement of an aortic valve. So far, It has all has been somewhat disorienting for me. I’m okay but frequently, I experience deep fatigue, but I keep your initial note to me about having to undergo similar surgery on your heart.
The operations are a deep intrusion and the body needs to recuperate. I was only 65 when I had mine so younger and swifter come back. Your work more intensive. I am sure you will come back in coming months and feel better and clearer than before. May the wind be at your back and may you find support from the palm that holds us all.