Blip, 1977

The fading and graffiti-ed Blip near one of the exit doors to the Clocktower roof is the sole remaining testimonial to the brilliant and provocative solo show which Artschwager did at the Clocktower in 1977. In the large downstairs galleries, Richard painted on the floor huge piano keys, both white and black, in an only slightly abstracted version of an actual piano keyboard. The show also contained wall works of disappearing piano keyboards in a manner similar to his drawings of the perspective of telephone poles as they disappear in the distance along the highway. It is worth mentioning that Artschwager is a more than competent pianist who has played for many parties of artists, usually variations on the Boogie Woogie…
- Alanna Heiss, Clocktower Gallery Founder and Director