Jerry Saltz
The Quote in Other Words
I have a particular fondness for a Baldessari piece that I would be thrilled to possess, possibly due to my upbringing in the Midwest and my enjoyment of solitary road trips. The artwork, titled ‘The backs of all the trucks passed while driving from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, California, Sunday, 20 January 1963,’ features a collection of 32 small color photographs arranged in a grid, showcasing exactly what the title suggests.
Explanation of the Quote
Baldessari’s work ‘The backs of all the trucks passed while driving from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, California, Sunday, 20 January 1963’ is a unique piece of art that captures the essence of a road trip. The grid of 32 small color photographs depicts the backs of trucks that the artist passed while driving alone from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. The work is a testament to the beauty of the mundane and the ordinary.
The piece is a reflection of the artist’s Midwestern roots and love of driving alone. It captures the essence of a road trip, the feeling of being on the open road, and the sense of freedom that comes with it. The photographs are not just a record of the trucks that passed by, but also a record of the artist’s journey, his thoughts, and his experiences.
Overall, Baldessari’s work is a celebration of the everyday, the ordinary, and the mundane. It reminds us that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places, and that sometimes the most profound experiences can come from the simplest of things.