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A color photograph of text reading “Avoid the Issues” against a dark background.

The photograph shows the text “Avoid the Issues” in bright flaring letters giving off smoke which drifts up and across the picture to the right, the smoke is brown as it rises from the letters and turns gray as it drifts up and across. The area underneath the letters is dark brown the area on the left side is black. Text below the photograph reads, “Fireworks sign (1974)/2 feet x 12 feet/strontium nitrate, potassium perchlorate/East River, New York.”

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2011.8.6
People
Dennis Oppenheim, American (Electric City, Washington 1938 - 2011 New York, New York)
Title
Avoid the Issues
Other Titles
Series/Book Title: Mind Twist: A Portfolio of Burnt Out Thoughts
Classification
Photographs
Work Type
photograph
Date
1977
Places
Creation Place: North America, United States, New York State
Culture
American
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/337324

Physical Descriptions

Technique
Chromogenic print
Dimensions
49.3 x 74 cm (19 7/16 x 29 1/8 in.)
sheet: 76.2 x 101.6 cm (30 x 40 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: recto, below image: FIREWORKS SIGN (1974) / 2' X 12' / STRONTIUM NITRATE, POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE / EAST RIVER, NEW YORK
  • inscription: recto, bottom edge of sheet, in blue ink: Avoid the issues TP 2/2 Dennis Oppenheim 1977

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Sotheby's, London, c. 2000, sold; to [Richard Saltoun], London, c.2000-2010, sold; to [G.W. Einstein Company, Inc, New York, New York], 2010, sold; to Harvard Art Museums, 2011.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Margaret Fisher Fund
Accession Year
2011
Object Number
2011.8.6
Division
Modern and Contemporary Art
Contact
am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 1100 60’s Experiment, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 10/07/2015 - 04/06/2016

Related Works

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art at am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu