Robert Petersen, N.Y.C., Bianca's 1st Birthday, 1989

Robert Petersen

N.Y.C., Bianca's 1st Birthday, 1989

Mixed media silkscreen and lithograph

Hand signed, inscribed, dated and numbered R.P/T.P II/VIII by the artist on the front

This graphic work can be hung equally vertically or horizontally. At the moment, it is framed to be hung vertically, but an extra wire can be added for horizontal display as the text and images run both vertically and horizontally. It is signed and titled, however, for horizontal display.

The work is dated and inscribed:
August 6/1989 - For Joe & Mary Bottino

This very original, compelling work was inscribed and dated to Dr. Joseph Bottino (now a retired oncologist) and his wife Mary. It is annotated T.P. (Trial Proof), and RTP (ready to print), and is hand signed with a dateline "Detail August, 1988" and the text "Bianca's First Birthday".

It celebrates the 1st birthday of Joe and Mary's daughter Bianca Bottino. Here, Robert Petersen charmingly documents what was going on in his life the month Bianca was born. The composition looks like a pastiche of a personal diary, with drawings, doodles, text and a polaroid photo; entries range from the very quotidien like "plug in the pot of coffee", to thoughts about his work process and interesting objects he found on the road, which he draws.

Below are a few examples of some of the text, though one would have to really look closely, both vertically and horizontally, to transcribe everything:

Found this object (picture of object) on 78 Greene Street after meeting Bob Blanton on Wooster
Bring lots of objects together to combine one to the other
I like that fox in the road
Linda visit my studio Wednesday night
8:45 am plug in the coffee pot
Morn out of studio window
white clouds today
Warm hazy this morning in New York City
Ped Patch #34 Greene Street
8/1/88 Bring lots of objects together. Linda found this object (drawn) on Broadway.
Send pen back to Robert Gates
AUG 6 1988 1:00 P.M. / 1988
Anders - Here to visit & lunch -
Lunch at Provence Bianca Bottino. Born.
AUG 7 1988 12:30 P.M Working on February 1984
Study for a painting - its 8:00 P.M. N.Y.C. Sunday
Night - warm night -
AUG 8 1988 Walk down to
pick up the mail 12:45 P.M.
Print Proofs from ARIZONA
AUG 12 1988 Friday Morning
2:05 Drive to Canaan
p.m.. Teddy woke up thunder & lightning midnight chimes
Jean-Michel Basquiat / [Heart] Found Blue Heart
on Greene St. A 38
1 on way to post office
AUG 5 1988
Piece of Metal at 80
Greene St 6:40 P.M / R.P
AUG 10 1988 - 10:47 AM Camco
Jim Cain - Left message -
He's going to phone back

Measurements:
Frame:
18.5 x 16 x 1.5 inches
Print:
9.5 x 7 inches

Publisher:
Castelli Graphics