In the weeks leading up to Rob Pruitt's recent two-gallery solo show, "Pattern and Degradation," there have been a handful of big profiles on the artist, with words like irreverent and splashy describing his rise, then his fall, and finally predicting the trajectory of his career. But I feel even since the opening of the show, showing simultaneously at Gavin Brown Enterprise (GBE) and the neighboring Maccarone Gallery, less focus has been given to, well, the work, as has to opinions about its creator. Critics are quick to develop or enhance the 'story' with the main character Rob Pruitt, but who really is Rob Pruitt and what story is he telling? I thought I'd offer this platform for Pruitt to talk about the show himself via an interview. A couple weeks ago we scheduled the interview and a few days later, I got a call from GBE asking if, in lieu of a 'traditional' interview, I would like to participate in a communal lunch with Rirkrit Tiravanija (School of the Arts Visual Arts Professor) and his Columbia University Sculpture 3 course and walk-through of the show led by Pruitt. The idea sounded wonderful -- not only would I get to enjoy a Tiravanija-conceived lunch but then get additional questions from a class of sharp art students for Pruitt on the show.
From The HuffingtonPost, October 4, 2010 - more
