James Rosenquist #3

James Rosenquist in his studio, Aripeka, Florida, 2008. (bron: Tampa bay Times)


(bron: The Phantom Darkroom)




James Rosenquist in his Aripeka studio, 2007.

"Everything's gone," world-renowned artist James Rosenquist said Saturday night. "Totally wiped out."*

This, after an 80-acre brush fire destroyed his home and studios in Aripeka, Florida over the weekend. The origin of the fire is under investigation and has been called suspicious.

Rosenquist is considered a leading figure of the pop-art movement. His work has been shown at the Smithsonian, the National Gallery and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Guggenheim organized a retrospective of his work in 2003 that traveled internationally. A couple of days ago he was preparing for a fall show in NYC; today, all of that new work is gone, virtually up in smoke, and none of it insured.

After being evacuated, JR could only watch the blaze from afar, from a friend's fishing boat out in the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately, no one was injured, but it's hard to imagine the devastation of losing part of a life's work and personal belongings, all at once. JR moved to this little patch of old Florida about 30 years ago, and built his residence and two airplane-hanger size studios.
....
The only losses mentioned in news articles were a 133' x 24' mural commissioned by the government of France, and 15 new pieces for his upcoming show.

JR has several assistants who had their own studio spaces within the building, and I'm sure their work, paints and supplies were lost too.
....
At 75, it must be a little overwhelming to have to start all over again. JR has talked about rebuilding, and says he will stay in Aripeka." (bron: Topsy Turvy)

After the fire, 2009. (bron: Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Times)