The art world lost one of its greatest modern innovators recently when Robert Rauschenberg passed away at the ripe old age of 82 in May. Pieces from different periods of the American artist's career are featured in The Hidden Noise: Considering the Object and Rauschenberg: USF, two new exhibits that open this Friday at USF Contemporary Art Museum. Rauschenberg saw ordinary, everyday objects as pieces of art. In his early years, he transformed seemingly disconnected objects into unique works that made a statement, which he called "combines." He later experimented with two dimensions, using magazine photographs of current events to create silkscreen prints that he covered with painted brushstrokes and printing onto unconventional surfaces like aluminum, moving plexiglass disks and clothes. Rauchenberg's decades-long association with Graphicstudio helped bring USF's art research institute into the national spotlight, and during his tenure there, he collaborated with a handful of art department faculty members to create 39 original-edition prints, photographs and sculpture multiples. These pieces are featured in Rauschenberg: USF; The Hidden Noise includes several Rauchenberg sculptures and a silkscreen that was recently on view at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. June 20-Aug. 1, with an opening reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Fri., June 20, USF-Tampa (CAM 101), 4202 E. Fowler Ave., free admission, 813-974-2849, cam.usf.edu.
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2008.