John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

 

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
May 23–July 31, 1997
Cologne

“Living in National City and working in a studio with no windows, I had a lot of time to think about things and the state of art, and one of the things I began thinking about – probably coming out simultaneously from teaching – was the function of art. When I say ‘function’, it’s interesting because I had this social conscience about trying to find some sort of life’s work that would make some sense to me and the world. Not that what I need is some social fulfillment that I did somebody some good – I can never be convinced that art did anybody any good – but I was thinking in that direction. Thinking about where art was, where I was in relationship to art, it seemed to me that I was located perhaps a fourth or fifth generation away from abstract expressionism. The same moves were being repeated over and over again by artists, including myself. And one of the reasons most often expressed by critics, or people mouthing off about art, was that it didn’t communicate. ‘My kid can draw like that,’ or what have you. [ … ]

 

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There is this question about what people want from art, how I could find something that could satisfy me. And also being in National City. And being in a studio with no windows. I think I probably began to lean in the direction of not even trying to satisfy myself. What do people want? What do they want out there, and what would satisfy them? The lowest common denominator, I supposed, would have some kind of text and photographic imagery. Once I made that decision, which didn't seem much like art to me, given these parameters, I wondered if I could make something out of text and photographic imagery that would serve as art. I think what served me was the concept of the 'lowest common denominator'. This was the answer: that text and photographic imagery would be on canvas and stretcher bars. That would signal to people that it was art, and maybe then I could get this stuff through the door, so to speak, of a gallery or museum or wherever art was shown. And so I proceeded."
From: "Interview with John Baldessari", in: John Baldessari, National City, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego 1996,

 

Installation Views
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

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Details
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Installation view, Galerie Philomene Magers, Cologne, May 23–July 31, 1997

Details
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Exhibited Works
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Duck Pond Bar, National City, California, 1966–68

John Baldessari
Duck Pond Bar, National City, California, 1966–68
Photographic emulsion and acrylic on canvas
149.9 × 139.7 cm
59 × 55 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Ballard's Ambulance Service, National City, Calif., 1966–68

John Baldessari
Ballard's Ambulance Service, National City, Calif., 1966–68
Photographic emulsion and acrylic on canvas
149.9 × 114.9 cm
59 × 45 1/4 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Former Site of Duck Pond Bar, 3003 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996

John Baldessari
Former Site of Duck Pond Bar, 3003 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996
Ink-jet and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Pink Pig, 2305 Highland Ave., National City, Calif., 1996

John Baldessari
Pink Pig, 2305 Highland Ave., National City, Calif., 1996
Ink-jet and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Sunny Donuts, 724 Highland Avenue, National City, Calif., 1996

John Baldessari
Sunny Donuts, 724 Highland Avenue, National City, Calif., 1996
Ink-jet and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
1121 East Second Street, National City, Calif., 1996/2011

John Baldessari
1121 East Second Street, National City, Calif., 1996/2011
Varnished archival print on canvas with oil paint
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Earl Scheib Auto Painting, 111 National City Blvd, National City, Calif., 1996

John Baldessari
Earl Scheib Auto Painting, 111 National City Blvd, National City, Calif., 1996
Photographic emulsion and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Lourdes Restaurant, 1125 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996

John Baldessari
Lourdes Restaurant, 1125 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996
Photographic emulsion and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Star Theater, 4762 Ridgeway Drive, Lincoln Acres, California, 1996

John Baldessari
Star Theater, 4762 Ridgeway Drive, Lincoln Acres, California, 1996
Photographic emulsion and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Subject Matter, 1966–68

John Baldessari
Subject Matter, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 144.8 cm
68 × 57 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Space, 1966–68

John Baldessari
Space, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 144.8 cm
68 × 57 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Exhibiting Paintings, 1966–68

John Baldessari
Exhibiting Paintings, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172 × 144 cm
66 3/4 × 56 1/2 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
For Barbara Rose, 1966–68

John Baldessari
For Barbara Rose, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 144.8 cm
68 × 57 inches

John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne
John Baldessari
Examining Pictures, 1966–68

John Baldessari
Examining Pictures, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 143.5 cm
68 × 56 1/2 inches

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Details
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Duck Pond Bar, National City, California, 1966–68
Photographic emulsion and acrylic on canvas
149.9 × 139.7 cm
59 × 55 inches

John Baldessari
Duck Pond Bar, National City, California, 1966–68
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Ballard's Ambulance Service, National City, Calif., 1966–68
Photographic emulsion and acrylic on canvas
149.9 × 114.9 cm
59 × 45 1/4 inches

John Baldessari
Ballard's Ambulance Service, National City, Calif., 1966–68
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Former Site of Duck Pond Bar, 3003 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996
Ink-jet and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
Former Site of Duck Pond Bar, 3003 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Pink Pig, 2305 Highland Ave., National City, Calif., 1996
Ink-jet and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
Pink Pig, 2305 Highland Ave., National City, Calif., 1996
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Sunny Donuts, 724 Highland Avenue, National City, Calif., 1996
Ink-jet and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
Sunny Donuts, 724 Highland Avenue, National City, Calif., 1996
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
1121 East Second Street, National City, Calif., 1996/2011
Varnished archival print on canvas with oil paint
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
1121 East Second Street, National City, Calif., 1996/2011
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Earl Scheib Auto Painting, 111 National City Blvd, National City, Calif., 1996
Photographic emulsion and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
Earl Scheib Auto Painting, 111 National City Blvd, National City, Calif., 1996
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Lourdes Restaurant, 1125 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996
Photographic emulsion and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
Lourdes Restaurant, 1125 National City Blvd., National City, Calif., 1996
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Star Theater, 4762 Ridgeway Drive, Lincoln Acres, California, 1996
Photographic emulsion and enamel paint on canvas
149.9 × 114.3 cm
59 × 45 inches

John Baldessari
Star Theater, 4762 Ridgeway Drive, Lincoln Acres, California, 1996
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Subject Matter, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 144.8 cm
68 × 57 inches

John Baldessari
Subject Matter, 1966–68
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Space, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 144.8 cm
68 × 57 inches

John Baldessari
Space, 1966–68
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Exhibiting Paintings, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172 × 144 cm
66 3/4 × 56 1/2 inches

John Baldessari
Exhibiting Paintings, 1966–68
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
For Barbara Rose, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 144.8 cm
68 × 57 inches

John Baldessari
For Barbara Rose, 1966–68
John Baldessari – NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996 – Cologne

John Baldessari
Examining Pictures, 1966–68
Acrylic on canvas
172.7 × 143.5 cm
68 × 56 1/2 inches

John Baldessari
Examining Pictures, 1966–68
Details
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Selected Press

John Baldessari. NATIONAL CITY. Paintings from 1967 and 1996
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, by S.H., July 19, 1997

„Die Vergangenheit muß man zerstören“
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, interview by Marie Hüllenkremer, June 10, 1997