Rauschenberg Memorial

October 27, 2008 1:57 PM

As was noted previously, Robert Rauschenberg left us ealier this year at age 82. The webcast of a private memorial for Robert Rauschenberg’s friends and family will be viewable tonight for one time only at 9 p.m EST.
posted by R. Mutt (13 comments total)

Whoops, also meant to include the Artinfo article announcing it.
posted by R. Mutt at 2:02 PM on October 27, 2008

A press release on the exhibition. R. Mutt's link to the Rauschenberg website seems correct but I guess apparently they don't want to go overboard over there and tell anyone about it or anything. Perhaps it's some mentality going along with the belief that something will appear on the internet "for one time only."
posted by nanojath at 2:05 PM on October 27, 2008

Well dang.
posted by nanojath at 2:05 PM on October 27, 2008

awww. I missed the post about Rauschenberg's death, didn't know he died. I'm glad he reached a good old age and hope he had a peaceful exit. I love his art. Such wonderful, mischievous humor and joie de vivre. Wish I'd known him in person but it's enough really to know him through and be awakened by his wonderful work.

I love his quotations:

* "It is impossible to have progress without conscience."
* "I think a painting is more like the real world if it's made out of the real world."
* "The artist's job is to be a witness to his time in history."
* "You begin with the possibilities of the material."
* "An empty canvas is full only if you want it to be full."
* "I work in the gap between art and life."
* "You have to have the time to feel sorry for yourself in order to be a good abstract expressionist."
* "I feel as though the world is a friendly boy walking along in the sun."
* "People ask me, 'Don't you ever run out of ideas?' In the first place I don't use ideas. Every time I have an idea it's too limiting, and usually turns out to be a disappointment. But I haven't run out of curiosity."
* "Screwing things up is a virtue. Being correct is never the point. Being right can stop all the momentum of a very interesting idea.”

Thanks so much R. Mutt for the the heads up about the memorial program.
posted by nickyskye at 2:59 PM on October 27, 2008 [3 favorites]

is anyone going to record this?
posted by krautland at 4:56 PM on October 27, 2008

"Due to the length of the program the web cast will begin at 11:00pm est."
posted by gac at 6:03 PM on October 27, 2008

Due to the length of the program, the web cast will begin at 11:00pm est.

Crap!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:05 PM on October 27, 2008

So 11pm it is...
posted by R. Mutt at 6:05 PM on October 27, 2008

it's started. 7pm PST. seems early
posted by futureproof at 7:00 PM on October 27, 2008

Wow, up in the middle of the night for seemingly no reason - looks like I found one. Thanks much!
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 7:06 PM on October 27, 2008

wow... I wish I was recording this.

Some great words there from President Clinton
posted by futureproof at 7:15 PM on October 27, 2008

I prefer the work to the eulogy.
posted by tighttrousers at 9:20 PM on October 27, 2008

Loved what Rauschenberg's son had to say, the recipe and the party, corny but very lovable.

Clinton was so interesting. What immediately came to mind is that The Chimp wouldn't even know who Rauschenberg was.

He seemed beautifully mournful, elegantly emotive. I flinched with him talking about the body, kept not wanting him to talk about the body because what came to mind was his seeming fixation on his body while he was President. And then when he talked about spirit. I didn't know he felt that way about there being a spirit. Is he Christian? I liked him talking about the Rauschenberg art in the White House garden. Who knew? And that Hilary had a part in putting it there. When he brought up Jackie, it made me think he wants to be remembered alikened to the JFK administration in terms of art and sophistication, which he will be.

But then he made the point of us, who are alive and enjoying Rauschenberg's art with our senses and bodies, do so as a way of grounding the Rauschenberg spirit. It was unexpected.

Anyway, thanks for that. It felt personally meaningful to witness his memorial and family members sharing their thoughts and memories.
posted by nickyskye at 9:35 PM on October 27, 2008