John Baldessari: 1931 - 2020

Bob Matheny gave me this print when he found out that John Baldessari had been most formative in my early education as an artist. First off, trip out on this print. Hand set, 2-color letterpress just to advertise your class?!? I gather it was made before Bob brought him to Southwestern College, which was before David Antin brought him to UCSD, which was before Paul Brach brought him to CalArts, which is to say before Baldessari was “Baldessari.” For me, it sums up all the early questions I had, and that John answered, about being an artist: You can come from anywhere; you don’t have to be the beneficiary of a rich, cultured family tradition; if you weren’t a selfish asshole to begin with, you didn’t have to feign that role; and most of all, that teaching could be as much of a passion as art making. And, if you’re gonna make a flyer for your class, make it good.