Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Art of the Still

1957-J-#2, at Still Museum, Denver
Clyfford 'Pot' Still... a luminary of the Abstract Expressionist movement, who forged his own non-figurative formal vocabulary,* and insisted on his works remaining in storage until they could be housed 30 years later in their own dedicated museum; fond of working on a large scale, with rough-textured impasto troweled onto the canvas with the palette knife...

Or a master of the Black Arts, using his arcane command of Gramarye to unlock the forbidden gate and conjure up visions from the demonic domains, so he was simply painting from life?

The only way to be sure is to perform the same blasphemous rituals oneself, preferably staging the seances in the physical proximity of one of Still's paintings so that the lingering resonances of ectoplasmic charge will intensify the morphogenetic flux.

If following the formulae transcribed in the Metronomicon of Abdul al-Hazmat, bear in mind that the author's insistence on partial nudity and the transgressive use of body fluids might reflect his own predilections rather than the Goetic tradition. Also it helps to wait until the guards at the Still Museum are distracted elsewhere, for they are quick to misunderstand.


* A distinctive vocabulary, and easy to copy... Still himself was noted for selling the same composition several times.
1957-J-#1, at Sanford University


In related news: 10 tonnes of toilet rolls blocked a highway in Ohio after a traffic incident. Police are refusing to comment until they have completed the paperwork.

UPDATED with Bonus Clyfford Style Cover Art, previously omitted because Smut brain not work fast.

10 comments:

Substance McGravitas said...

Maybe he just ran some current through a Pollock painting.

Rachel said...

Those pointy plastic peaks and slumping shelves of paint were just begging for some nice soft ass flesh. It's like babies wiping their shit on the walls, or grown-up 20th C. artists rolling naked dames in paint and then "printing" their bums. (My teacher Dennis Burton told me he did that!) I wouldn't have then, also, pissed on the floor, however. Tsk tsk.

Smut Clyde said...

Good point, Rachel. 'Takete' invites 'Baluba'.

rolling naked dames in paint and then "printing" their bums
It's only Art if the paint is International Klein Blue.

Rachel said...

If you stare at it long enough you can see a bum.

http://youtu.be/LZBsYSj94Yc

What name would you give THIS phenom, my dear Smut?

Smut Clyde said...

It's a blue screen. I call it "Windows".

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

If following the formulae transcribed in the Metronomicon of Abdul al-Hazmat

Ah, yes, the "Clean" Poet himself.

I was expecting a post on home production of poteen.

SHAN'T... BE... BACK!!!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

OHIO in the NEWS!

I pity the Loo!
~

Sirius Lunacy said...

I was expecting a post on home production of poteen.

I too was drawn in by the promise of alcohol. And I swore I would never let that happen again.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

"I JUST REALLY ENJOY THIS PAINTING!!"

Smut Clyde said...

But do you enjoy it enough to buy the customised toilet paper?
One of the terms for setting up the Clyfford Still Museum was "No coffee bar or merchandise shop", so it will just be an on-line business.