Rodney Graham

While picking up in my oficina I found two strips of medium format slide film in plastic sleeves. I have no idea why I would put prints of Rodney Graham on my deck chairs and then photograph them.

The upper section represents a time when Graham came into my studio for me to take his portrait for the Globe and Mail. I told him that I had been inspired by a portrait of an intellectual in my August Sander book. He asked me to show him the book. To my amazement he signalled the very portrait!

The second section is my flagrant ripping off on the famous portrait of Igor Stravinsky by Arnold Newman. That was also for the Globe and Mail. I indicated to the art directors in Toronto not to crop the photograph as it was a private joke between Graham and yours truly.

Now looking at this scan I think of that ugly Vancouver word used so often to describe art, “installation”. When somebody invites me to see an installation I usually stay away. Now looking at this scan I can almost imagine it being in an art gallery very large.

Perhaps just might be an artist and an installation artist to boot.