Instruments of Cubism Sculpture and Assemblages

June 30-August 5, 2017

by Gene Provenzo

STAUNTON AUGUSTA ART CENTER

T his exhibit, Instruments of Cubism, was begun in 2014. The works included at the Staunton Augusta Art Center

(https://saartcenter.org/), Staunton, Virginia (June30-August 5, 2017) are inspired by the Cubist paintings and

drawings of musical instruments done by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Juan Gris (1887-1927) and Georges Braques (1882-

1963)—works completed during the period immediately preceding the First World War.

These paintings and drawings are of extraordinary importance in the history of Modern Art. Approximately seventy-five

paintings and dozens of drawings were the primary artistic building blocks for the movement we now know as Cubism.

Picasso, Braque and Gris painted the majority of their Cubist works from still lifes. I have deconstructed many of these paint-

ings and drawings and recreated them as assemblages and sculptures. In this sense, the works included in this exhibit repre-

sent a deconstruction and re-imagination of the original Cubist still lifes. Most of the works are assemblage and several are

free-standing sculptures. One mobile is included in the exhibit. Other collages have been created as part of this project, but

are not in the exhibit.

The smallest work included in the exhibit measures 12” x 16”. Several are as large 48” by 48”. I believe the results are ex-

tremely interesting. They combine both a certain gravitas and playfulness. Materials used for the project come from many

sources. Damaged mid-19th century porcelain dolls from Germany, used in one of the Bach pieces, were purchased along

with many other items, through the Internet. Three inoperable 19th century pump organs, two pianos, numerous dresser

drawers, several tables and various discarded or very poor quality musical instruments, including violins, two zithers, gui-

tars, mandolins, an accordion, clarinets, and even a harmonica were essential to creating these works.

Thrift shops, garage sales, junk on the curb and an occasional gift from a friend (prefaced by “You might be able to use

these.”), were critical to my work. I thank my various contributors.

I would particularly like to thank my garage sale companion Mike Martin; my good friend Ray Firehock for his thoughtful

suggestions; Timothy Kane for his insight and support; Jamie Cooke and the people at Black Swan Music and Books for

providing me with materials and the opportunity to exhibit my work; Paul Biggs, master welder; and Lew Stern and Travis

Weaver for giving me damaged instruments.

Several businesses have provided invaluable materials and technical suggestions. These include: Huss and Dalton Guitar

Company; Taylor and Boody Organs; Miles-Morgan Framing; Young Hardware Store; Staunton Machine Works; Staunton

Glass and Mirror; Shenandoah Trophies and Awards; Once Upon a Time; Staunton Antiques Center; Fretwell Bass; my

friends at Makerspace and Bruce Frank and his merry movers. Finally, I would like to thank my wife and best friend, Asterie

Provenzo, who makes what I do possible.

Gene Provenzo

Staunton, Virginia

June 2017

provenzo@miami.edu

Gallery Talk with Gene Provenzo at the opening of the exhibit, June 30, 2017.

Gene Provenzo explaining elements of the work “Fugue” at the opening of the ex-

hibit June 30, 2017.

Cardboard Guitar Assemblage

20” x 45” x 5”

Cardboard Guitar Created

by Picasso in 1911

-1-

Juan Gris

Violin Hanging on Wall Violin Sketch Assemblage 20” x 45” x 5”

-2-

Violin Sketch Assemblage

17 1/2” x 23 1/4” x 9”

Juan Gris

The Violin

-3-

Picasso

Constellation

-4-

Jazz Guitar: Constellation #1 Assemblage

20” x 38 1/2” x 10”

Music of the Spheres: Constellation #2 Assemblage

18”x 26” x 9”

-5-

Picasso

Constellation

Gris The White Clouds

Clouded Memory of the Beach Assemblage

45” x 20” x 5”

-6-

-7-

Violin and Guitar Assemblage

15 1/2” x 27 1/4” x 5 1/4”

Picasso

Still Life with Violin

Picasso

Guitar Steel Guitar

Assemblage/Sculpture 13 1/2” x 37” x 8”

-8-

All that Jazz Assemblage/Sculpture

24” x 44” x 12”

Picasso

Sketch of Cardboard Guitar

-9-

A Little Night Music Assemblage

12” x 16 1/2” x 2 1/2” Gris

The Violin

-10-

Aria Variata Assemblage

13 ½” x 25 1/2” x 3”

Braque

Aria de Bach

-11-

Fete Assemblage

15” x 18 1/2” x 2 3/4”

-12-

Braque

Fete

Remains of the Day Assemblage

14 1/2” x16” x 3”

Braque

Violin and Musical Score

-13

Picasso Wallpaper and Guitar

Wallpaper and Guitar Assemblage

15” x 28” x 4”

-14-

Composition with Violin Assemblage

12” x 39” x 3”

Picasso

Violin

-15-

Picasso

Guitar and Sheet Music Valse

Assemblage 30” x 29” x 5 1/2”

-16-

Deconstructing Sketch of Violin

Assemblage

11” x 39 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Picasso

Sketch of Violin

-17-

Gris

Violin and Guitar Listening for Juan Gris

Assemblage

18 1/2” x 27” x 6”

-18-

Le Caprice Assemblage

16” x 31” x 5 1/2”

Braque

Violin and Pipe

-19-

Picasso

Pipe, Glass, Bottle of Vieux Marc

-20-

Picasso's Taverna Assemblage

20” x 24” x 7 1/4”

Picasso

Violin and Grapes

-21-

Grapes and Violin

Assemblage

18” x 36” x 5”

| Picasso

Guitar, Gas Jet and Bottle

-22-

Gaslight Assemblage

16 3/4” x 32 1/2” x 6”

Braque

Mandora

-23-

Turkish Delight Assemblage

22 1/2” x 41 1/2” x 5”

Picasso

Sketch of Guitar Violin Sketch Assemblage

20” x 37 1/2” x 16”

-24-

Timepiece

Assemblage

27” x 29 1/2” x 5”

Picasso

Clarinet and Violin

-25-

Gris

Harmonica and Flageolet

-26-

Harmonic Vibrations Assemblage

29 1/2” x 21 1/2” x 3 1/2”

Braque The Violin

-27-

Come Tonight Assemblage

38” x 21” x 4”

The Color of Music Assemblage

29” x 24” x 6”

Gris Tea Cups

-28-

Violin Riff: Constellation #3 Assemblage

23” x 43” x 6”

-29-

Picasso

Violin Constellation

Picasso

Guitar Abstraction

-30-

Constructed Guitar #1 Assemblage

27” x 20 1/2” x 3”

-31-

Le Bleu. Constructed Guitar #2

Assemblage

20 1/2” x 27” x 3”

Picasso

Guitar Abstraction

Picasso

Three Musicians

-32-

Three Musicians

Assemblage

26” x 23 1/2” 1 5/8”

Picasso

Solar Constellation

-33-

Star Constellation: Constellation #4

Mobile (two pieces)

24” x 26”

Picasso Constellation

-34-

Cosmic Guitar: Constellation #5

(table base included)

Assemblage

30” x 68”

Fugue for Guitar: Constellation #6 (table included)

Assemblage

30” x 72

Picasso Guitar Constellation

-35-

Picasso

Harlequin

-36-

Harlequin #1

(sits on own chair)

Assemblage/Sculpture

20” x 50 1/2” x 16”

Gris

Harlequin with Guitar

-37-

Harlequin #2 Assemblage/Sculpture

30” x 58” x 15”

Picasso

Bottle of Bass and Guitar

-38-

Guitar and Bass Ale

Assemblage

48” x 36” x 3”

Duet with Zither Assemblage

27” x 46” x 6”

Braque Violin and Harp

-39-

Picasso Guitar, Glass and Bottle

-40-

Remains of the Evening

Assemblage

39” x 31 1/2” x 6”

-41-

Ensemble Assemblage

38 1/2” x 24” x 8”

Braque

Musical Instruments

Braque

Violin and Palette

-42-

Dream of an Artist's Life Assemblage

26” x 42” x 12”

Fugue Assemblage

44” x 41” x 7”

Braque

J. S. Bach

-43-

Braque

J. S. Bach

Napoli Assemblage

20” x 57” x 8”

-44-

Braque Piano and Mandola

Girl with Mandola Assemblage

22” x 52” x 6”

Picasso

Girl with Mandolin

-45-

Picasso

Bottle, Guitar and Pipe Old Jerve

Assemblage

42” x 43” x 10”

-46-

Stuff on a Table (sits on table against wall)

Assemblage

30” x 57” x 16” (includes table)

Braque

The Round Table

-47-

Memories of Le Havre Assemblage

25” x 45 1/2” x 3”

Picasso

Le Havre

-48-

Guitar in the Studio

Assemblage

26” x 70” x 11” (includes half table)

Picasso’s Studio in 1911

-49-