A Persistence of Memory

As a collector, sculptor, critic, and art historian, Hall passionately promotes American regionalist artists and their visual legacy. In this installation, he places himself among the many Midwest artists whose works are neglected or forgotten. Hall selected eighteen paintings, all part of the DIA collection, and displays them facing the wall in a gallery space that also contains a commercial trash dumpster. Although each painting was valued at the time of its creation, Hall suggests that they have been neglected or forgotten by the art establishment.

The backs of the paintings, usually hidden from view, reveal artists’ signatures, labels, stickers from past exhibitions, and structural elements. These marks tell a history about the works usually only available to art historians or curators. Next to each painting, a label written by Hall discusses the artists and remarks about his personal relationship to each. In a parallel manner, notes by Hall on paintings by regional artists from other parts of the country are posted on this Web page.

Posted Notes to A Persistence of Memory