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Obscene Jesters, 2010

 Item — Box: 170
Identifier: CC-51561-72660

Scope and Contents

This rubberstamp set was first fabricated in 50 copies in 1979 at PSX headquarters in San Francisco CA. It was exhibited in Rubber Stamp Publications in 1980 in Amsterdam and performed in 2010 at the Stamp Art Museum in Chicago by Keith Buchholz and Picasso Gaglione. According to Darlene Domel, Picasso Gaglione's wife, creation of rubberstamp box sets has continued unabated since the late 1980's. "These box sets pay homage to the famous FLUX POST KIT 7 created by George Maciunas in a limited edition in 1967, but are unique and faithful only to Picasso's personal vision. He produces every set individually. Each box concept develops from some unique idea or a little known fact gleaned from his art research on Dadaists, Fluxists, and contemporary mail artists. It may or may not relate to rubberstamp activity but usually has some element of stamping in it. Some sets pay homage to artists that he admires. Some capture a moment in art history or document the activity of an artist who has caught his attention. Each set is assembled carefully by hand. The choice of the box may inspire a piece so the boxes vary with each set. The structure of the set is usually, but not always, similar. Each box set has a theme. Once Picasso has decided on the theme he designs a unique label for each box. He may decide to include a small explanatory booklet with the set. He creates each booklet and label by hand stamping every letter of every word with individual rubber stamp letters. He often uses stamps from one of the many antique stamp sets he has collected over the years. Some of the earlier sets have a printed and typed descriptive label but sets produced since 1998 contain labels and booklets, which have been entirely hand stamped. Each box set usually contains a sheet of artist stamps- perforated like postage stamps. Gaglione perforates these postage sheets himself on his antique perforator. In the manner of Maciunas, he may also create unique postcards for each set. Every set contains a rubber stamp or several that he has designed and produced himself. When he is assembling the boxes he often remembers to sign, date and number them. Most often he forgets. Each set is a limited edition but the number of each edition is flexible to the point of whimsy. The box sets are the most disciplined expression of the art that Picasso creates spontaneously. The box sets comprise all aspects of his artwork: rubber stamps, artist stamps, book design, communication and construction but are never formulaic or repetitious. They are treasure boxes of art secrets revealed. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Dates

  • Creation: 2010

Creator

Extent

1 item (1 box) : 9 objects (wood, rubberstamps) + pamphlet + 10 pages (photocopied) + stamp sheet (perforated, rubberstamped) + card (rubberstamped, perforated) in box (cardboard); top cover (collaged, rubberstamp); inside top cover (collaged, rubberstamped sheet); picasso gaglione (inside bottom box) ; 19 x 14 cm (stamp sheet) + 14 x 11 cm (card) + 4 x 5 x 3 cm (rubberstamp) + 19 x 13 cm (pamphlet), 21 x 15 x 4 cm (in box)

Language of Materials

English

Original Sackner Archive Location

shelf alphabeti

Custodial History

The Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry, gift of Ruth and Marvin A. Sackner and the Sackner Family Partnership.

Materials Specific Details

Published: Chicago, Illinois : Stamp Art Museum. Signed by: gaglione (l.r.- inside cover sheet); picasso gaglione (inside bottom box). Inscription: To Marvin & Ruth with love,. Nationality of creator: American.

Processing Information

Added by: MARVIN; updated by: RED.

Repository Details

Part of the The Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry Repository

Contact:
125 W. Washington St.
Main Library
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