Kind of Embarrassing

[Photo by Elad Lassry]

So I've started an Internship at the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis and...so far so good.  The first day I started, there was a walk through of the new exhibition with the "Resident" and Assistant Curators whom described the work of the exhibits artists'-Richard Artschwager and Elad Lassry.

Lassry was in the main galleries gathered with the installation crew.  He seemed husky, and startled...because of that, I assumed he was just some broad shouldered guy hired to install the installation and lift heavy things.  Little did I know...

Later I would see him lingering around..eating lunch..talking to the curators, looking out the window of the cafe over the patio area..he was a loner.

But nothing ever seemed obvious about his position.  Not even when I attended the walk through and fell in love with his photographs.

Then it became apparent to me who he was. 

I was in one of the installation rooms during the Opening, thankful for some browsing time and my glass of wine.  A crew member informed me that there were no beverages allowed in the main galleries and then walked away, over to a silhouette of a man standing next to me (it was dark in the installation room).  I could hear her say, "I think they're about to say a few words..."  I didn't know what that meant but all of a sudden I started to follow a group of people (including the silhouette) out into the light of the museum's "performance space".  The man in the dark was Elad.  I recognized him in the light like a "sore thumb", observing his attire-a fitted new era hat, jeans over cowboy boots, weathered cotton shirt-he really was LA Based...

Visitors grouped around for 'the words'.  Curators chanted "So grateful to work with" and "Such an opportunity..."  Richard Artschwagger arose from his wheel chair a few times, to comment on their comments.  I couldn't hear him but everyone else applauded.  And laughed.  And Elad.  I was two feet behind him (coveting his hands' scars and awkward ear).  It was an incident to remember and he said nothing.  Not even in retort to the Resident's and Assistant's gratitude.  I would have done the same...

original post: Tuesday, September 14, 2010