The Modern History pieces are serial works which explore the dynamics of photographic representation of current events as seen in world newspapers. Different works trace the formal hierarchies of power as well as the visual manifestation of editorial perspective. Each piece focuses on a specific problem around which newspapers are collected and selective interventions are made. These works are black and white photographic prints made from masked newspapers, reproduced in their original scale.
1978, C Space, New York, NY
Herald Tribune, September 1977
1977 26 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, 23 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Fotomuseum Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, MA Vancouver Art Gallery, British Columbia
Includes all front pages of Herald Tribune published in the month of September 1977, with all text removed. Only photos and mastheads remain, reproduced in original scale and placement, revealing play and import of photographic subjects.
2010, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY
Herald Tribune, November 1977
1977 26 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, 23 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York
Includes all front pages of Herald Tribune published in the month of November 1977, with all text removed. Only photos and mastheads remain, reproduced in original scale and placement, revealing play and import of photographic subjects.
April 20, 1978
1978 25 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 22 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA
Follows images covering the Red Brigades' announcement that they had assassinated former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro. Reaction to the verbal announcement is manifest in a variety of photos depicting police activity and search efforts for Moro, as well as unrelated events.
All text removed; all photos and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
2009, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
April 21, 1978
1978 45 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 22 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Holland Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Follows photo of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, held in captivity by the Red Brigades, as dispersed in newspapers worldwide on April 21, 1978. Following their previous announcement of his assassination, the Red Brigades released this photo of Moro holding the current newspaper as proof that he was still alive.
All text removed; all photos and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement, revealing import of this event in relation to local news priorities.
Osservatore Romano, March 17 - May 10, 1978
1978 27 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, 23.5 in. x 16.5 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Included front pages of Vatican world newspaper from the day of Aldo Moro's kidnapping to his eventual assassination, showing images of the Pope, clergy and crowds of assembled worshippers. The Moro event is only indicated by a stock photo of Moro on the day of the kidnapping and the same photo on the day of the assassination.
All text removed; all photos and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
April 19, 20, 21, 1978 installation shot
April 19, 20, 21, 1978
1978 3 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 22 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs
All photos and mastheads remain. Reproduced in original scale and placement, revealing a newspaper within a newspaper within a newspaper.
Installation
Arc of Total Eclipse, February 26, 1979
1979 29 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 22 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT Whitney Museum of American Art, New York Berkeley Art Museum, University of California Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
Follows local newspapers' representations of a total solar eclipse, as viewed along its geographical arc from the Pacific Northwest through Canada toward Greenland.
All text removed; all photos and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement; displayed in geographical order.
The Guerilla, June 4, 5, 1979
1979 10 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 24 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA
Follows the photo of a masked Sandinista guerilla, wounded but preparing for combat, as it appeared on front and back pages of ten U.S. newspapers. The rebel's pointed gun and the photographer's camera represent a collaboration of opposing technologies.
All text removed; all photos, captions and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
2014, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979
1979 27 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 22 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Follows pages of U.S. newspapers showing the death of ABC newsman Bill Stewart, who was murdered by Somoza guards in front of television news crew preparing to broadcast from Nicaragua. The death was filmed, later broadcast on TV and then translated to still images for newspaper reproduction.
All text removed; all photos, captions and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
Reading Persian
1979 2 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, 16 in. x 23 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, CA
Front page of Tehran newspaper from the day Iranian Shah's regime collapsed; same newspaper reproduced twice. One panel shows a photo of citizens razing the Shah's statue; only photo, no text. The other shows text in Arabic, illegible to non-Persian-speaking audiences, with photo removed.
Reproduced in original scale and placement, revealing that photo captions text rather than reverse.
The Wall of Tears (Auschwitz), June 8, 1979 (Study)
1979 3 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 in. x 23 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs
Regard (Study)
1979 2 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 in. x 23 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs
United We Stand / A Nation Divided
1979 (released 2003) 2 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers 15.75 in. x 12.5 in. each Edition of 5 + 2 APs
Covers of two Scottish tabloid newspapers, published on March 3rd, 1979, making conflicting claims.
All photos and text removed; only headlines and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
Herald Tribune, January 18 - February 28, 1991
1991 36 black and white prints reproduced same size as original newspapers, 23 in. x 16 in. each Edition of 3 + 2 APs
Front pages of the InternationalHerald Tribune during the escalation of the First Gulf War, from January 18 through February 28, 1991.
All text removed; all photos and mastheads remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
Verbs
Verbs 1978 (released 2003) black and white print reproduced same size as original newspapers 22 3/4 in. x 15 in. each Edition of 5 + 2 AP s
Front page of TheNew York Times, March 7, 1978. All photos, verbs and masthead remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.
Nouns
2003 Fuji Crystal Archive Print reproduced same size as original newspaper 22.75 in. x 15 in. Edition of 5 + 2 APs
Front page of TheNew York Times, October 11, 2003. All photos, nouns and masthead remain in place. Reproduced in original scale and placement.