Carl Andre: Sculpture as Place, 1958–2010

In this exquisite volume, published in collaboration with the Dia Art Foundation, the contribution of minimalist sculptor Andre (b. 1935) to postwar art is considered through handsome reproductions and insightful text. Born and raised in Quincy, Mass., a former freight brakeman and conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Andre used basic industrial materials in their stock formations to introduce an alternative approach to sculpture. As he once remarked, “‘Rather than cut into the material, I now use the material as a cut in space.’” The phenomenal display of work confirms Andre’s radical simplicity: a roll of lead ribbon, stacked timber blocks, mangled steel reinforcing rods. With virtually no style, studio, or assistants, he powerfully questioned the artist’s role and, according to Dia director Vergne, “changed sculpture.” Influenced by Ezra Pound, Andre was also an original poet interested in “the tactile sense of the words themselves.” His work with language receives close examination across several of the book’s 11 essays. Also discussed is the synthesis of space and time in Andre’s sculptures, how he paved the way for conceptual artists such as Douglas Huebler and Victor Burgin, and more. It’s impossible to read this book and not come away with a deeper understanding and admiration for Andre’s work. 48 color and 352 b&w illus.[em] (May) [/em]