Includes bibliographical references (page 325-331) and index.
Contents:
Francesco Vezzoli : The Kiss (Let's Play "Dynasty"!). by Philippe Vergne -- Paul Thek : real misunderstanding -- Wagner's head -- Sugar and vice and ... Balthus : a retrospective -- Cumulus from America -- Romance language -- Down the airshaft -- The dog and the suicide -- December 1989 : after the fact -- Interview with a Valkyrie -- The Levelers -- Slow. Fade -- Notes on digestion and film: Matthew Barney -- Minnesota nice: Fargo -- Shadowland -- Curzio Malaparte: Casa Malaparte, 1938 -- Douglas Gordon : 24 Hour Psycho -- Voodoo auteurism : film stills and photography -- Reel crank : on Manny Farber's negative space -- The law of indirections : Robert Gober -- Interview : Richard Flood and Robert Gober -- The land of the everlasting hills -- Openings : Francesco Vezzoli -- Gentlemen callers : Alice Neel and the art world -- Introduction : zero to infinity -- Tear me apart, one letter at a time -- Not about Mel Gibson -- Wool gathering -- Sitting : Michael Landy -- 49℗ʻ 16' N : Steven Shearer -- Animating the essence : Marisa Merz -- Both of him -- Francesco Vezzoli : The Kiss (Let's Play "Dynasty"!).
Summary:
Notes from the Playground' is a carefully selected anthology of thirty essays by the curator, academic and writer, Richard Flood. This new collection of his written work from over the past 40 years reveals an original and rigorous connection to the world of ideas and beauty and the critical and aesthetic experience of our present times. Drawing from his broad knowledge of history, cinema, literature, poetry, design and architecture, Flood's writings combine the autobiographical with the theoretical, presenting an intimate understanding of renowned contemporary artists. Throughout many of the essays, Flood draws on personal correspondence between himself and the artist, including an annotated conversation with Paul Thek discussing his fabricated works of wax 'raw meat' facsimiles embedded in luxurious Plexiglas cases; four interviews with Robert Gober during the 1990s, offering vivid accounts of his sculptural and creative process; and a detailed description of a portrait sitting at Michael Landy's studio.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.