“Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his visual impressions. A realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The result is what counts.” — Richard Diebenkorn
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) Ocean Park No.121 1980 oil on canvas 78¼ x 78 3/8 in. Price realised USD 7,698,500
Bischoff, who in 1976 told Paul Karlstrom: “I’m still supporting myself by teaching,” had only two one man shows before his first New York show at Staempfli Gallery in 1960, including a 1955 show at the Paul Kantor Gallery in Los Angeles from which nothing sold. In contrast, leading artists in New York benefitted from a booming art market. For example, Willem de Kooning’s 1959 New York show sold out on the first day, bringing in about $150,000 (about $1.2 million dollars today, when adjusted for inflation).
Of course, de Kooning was a sensation, but many other New York artists sold well while California artists struggled. In this situation, decently paying teaching jobs were a rare and precious commodity. When it was rumored in 1955 that David Park had been offered $10,000 per year to teach at UC Berkeley, artist Nathan Oliveira – who at the time was earning $2.50 per hour teaching art 18 hours per week – thought that Park had been given “the opportunity of a lifetime.” As it turns out, Park’s actual starting annual salary was $5,300.00.
Elmer Bischoff Orange Sweater 1955 Oil on canvas 48 ½ in. x 57 in. SFMoMA collections
“I have found that in accepting and immersing myself in subject matter I paint with more intensity and that the ‘hows’ of painting are more inevitably determined by the ‘whats’.” — David Park
David Park (1911-1960) Two Heads 1959 oil on canvas 24 x 26 in. Price realised USD 1,022,500
“The most interesting characteristic of the cube is that it is relatively uninteresting. Compared to other three-dimensional forms, the cube lacks the expressive force of the sphere, the dynamic quality of the pyramid, or the graceful complexity of the human figure. But it is what it is — a square in three dimensions — and that alone is enough.”
Sol LeWitt Cube Without a Cube Painted wood multiple, contained in the original wooden box. 1996 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 in. Sold $17,780
