Thursday, November 3

I cannot help still thinking about a work of art I saw last week by Los Angeles based painter and sculpture Mark Bradford.

It hung on a wall in the museum all to its own.  It was as wide as a billboard (and made on billboard material) and about four feet vertically.  It said “James Brown is Dead.” 

It was created (2007) after singer James Brown died (2006) according to the date on the explanation card hung next to it.  It also indicated it was inspired by the Dutch techno group L.A. Style’s song of 1991, James Brown is Dead.  He clearly was not at that time.

I found an interview with the artist on itunes and he said he was posing the question of "plurality" or which James Brown is dead since when he heard the news of his passing he recalled all the career come backs and style "rebirths" the singer had gone through.

Plenty to ponder.