Instruments of Cubism Sculpture and Assemblages
June 30-August 5, 2017
by Gene Provenzo
STAUNTON AUGUSTA ART CENTER
T his exhibit, Instruments of Cubism, was begun in 2014. The works included at the Staunton Augusta Art Center
(https://saartcenter.org/), Staunton, Virginia (June30-August 5, 2017) are inspired by the Cubist paintings and
drawings of musical instruments done by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Juan Gris (1887-1927) and Georges Braques (1882-
1963)—works completed during the period immediately preceding the First World War.
These paintings and drawings are of extraordinary importance in the history of Modern Art. Approximately seventy-five
paintings and dozens of drawings were the primary artistic building blocks for the movement we now know as Cubism.
Picasso, Braque and Gris painted the majority of their Cubist works from still lifes. I have deconstructed many of these paint-
ings and drawings and recreated them as assemblages and sculptures. In this sense, the works included in this exhibit repre-
sent a deconstruction and re-imagination of the original Cubist still lifes. Most of the works are assemblage and several are
free-standing sculptures. One mobile is included in the exhibit. Other collages have been created as part of this project, but
are not in the exhibit.
The smallest work included in the exhibit measures 12” x 16”. Several are as large 48” by 48”. I believe the results are ex-
tremely interesting. They combine both a certain gravitas and playfulness. Materials used for the project come from many
sources. Damaged mid-19th century porcelain dolls from Germany, used in one of the Bach pieces, were purchased along
with many other items, through the Internet. Three inoperable 19th century pump organs, two pianos, numerous dresser
drawers, several tables and various discarded or very poor quality musical instruments, including violins, two zithers, gui-
tars, mandolins, an accordion, clarinets, and even a harmonica were essential to creating these works.
Thrift shops, garage sales, junk on the curb and an occasional gift from a friend (prefaced by “You might be able to use
these.”), were critical to my work. I thank my various contributors.
I would particularly like to thank my garage sale companion Mike Martin; my good friend Ray Firehock for his thoughtful
suggestions; Timothy Kane for his insight and support; Jamie Cooke and the people at Black Swan Music and Books for
providing me with materials and the opportunity to exhibit my work; Paul Biggs, master welder; and Lew Stern and Travis
Weaver for giving me damaged instruments.
Several businesses have provided invaluable materials and technical suggestions. These include: Huss and Dalton Guitar
Company; Taylor and Boody Organs; Miles-Morgan Framing; Young Hardware Store; Staunton Machine Works; Staunton
Glass and Mirror; Shenandoah Trophies and Awards; Once Upon a Time; Staunton Antiques Center; Fretwell Bass; my
friends at Makerspace and Bruce Frank and his merry movers. Finally, I would like to thank my wife and best friend, Asterie
Provenzo, who makes what I do possible.
Gene Provenzo
Staunton, Virginia
June 2017
[email protected]
Gallery Talk with Gene Provenzo at the opening of the exhibit, June 30, 2017.
Gene Provenzo explaining elements of the work “Fugue” at the opening of the ex-
hibit June 30, 2017.
Cardboard Guitar Assemblage
20” x 45” x 5”
Cardboard Guitar Created
by Picasso in 1911
-1-
Juan Gris
Violin Hanging on Wall Violin Sketch Assemblage 20” x 45” x 5”
-2-
Violin Sketch Assemblage
17 1/2” x 23 1/4” x 9”
Juan Gris
The Violin
-3-
Picasso
Constellation
-4-
Jazz Guitar: Constellation #1 Assemblage
20” x 38 1/2” x 10”
Music of the Spheres: Constellation #2 Assemblage
18”x 26” x 9”
-5-
Picasso
Constellation
Gris The White Clouds
Clouded Memory of the Beach Assemblage
45” x 20” x 5”
-6-
-7-
Violin and Guitar Assemblage
15 1/2” x 27 1/4” x 5 1/4”
Picasso
Still Life with Violin
Picasso
Guitar Steel Guitar
Assemblage/Sculpture 13 1/2” x 37” x 8”
-8-
All that Jazz Assemblage/Sculpture
24” x 44” x 12”
Picasso
Sketch of Cardboard Guitar
-9-
A Little Night Music Assemblage
12” x 16 1/2” x 2 1/2” Gris
The Violin
-10-
Aria Variata Assemblage
13 ½” x 25 1/2” x 3”
Braque
Aria de Bach
-11-
Fete Assemblage
15” x 18 1/2” x 2 3/4”
-12-
Braque
Fete
Remains of the Day Assemblage
14 1/2” x16” x 3”
Braque
Violin and Musical Score
-13
Picasso Wallpaper and Guitar
Wallpaper and Guitar Assemblage
15” x 28” x 4”
-14-
Composition with Violin Assemblage
12” x 39” x 3”
Picasso
Violin
-15-
Picasso
Guitar and Sheet Music Valse
Assemblage 30” x 29” x 5 1/2”
-16-
Deconstructing Sketch of Violin
Assemblage
11” x 39 1/2” x 4 1/2”
Picasso
Sketch of Violin
-17-
Gris
Violin and Guitar Listening for Juan Gris
Assemblage
18 1/2” x 27” x 6”
-18-
Le Caprice Assemblage
16” x 31” x 5 1/2”
Braque
Violin and Pipe
-19-
Picasso
Pipe, Glass, Bottle of Vieux Marc
-20-
Picasso's Taverna Assemblage
20” x 24” x 7 1/4”
Picasso
Violin and Grapes
-21-
Grapes and Violin
Assemblage
18” x 36” x 5”
| Picasso
Guitar, Gas Jet and Bottle
-22-
Gaslight Assemblage
16 3/4” x 32 1/2” x 6”
Braque
Mandora
-23-
Turkish Delight Assemblage
22 1/2” x 41 1/2” x 5”
Picasso
Sketch of Guitar Violin Sketch Assemblage
20” x 37 1/2” x 16”
-24-
Timepiece
Assemblage
27” x 29 1/2” x 5”
Picasso
Clarinet and Violin
-25-
Gris
Harmonica and Flageolet
-26-
Harmonic Vibrations Assemblage
29 1/2” x 21 1/2” x 3 1/2”
Braque The Violin
-27-
Come Tonight Assemblage
38” x 21” x 4”
The Color of Music Assemblage
29” x 24” x 6”
Gris Tea Cups
-28-
Violin Riff: Constellation #3 Assemblage
23” x 43” x 6”
-29-
Picasso
Violin Constellation
Picasso
Guitar Abstraction
-30-
Constructed Guitar #1 Assemblage
27” x 20 1/2” x 3”
-31-
Le Bleu. Constructed Guitar #2
Assemblage
20 1/2” x 27” x 3”
Picasso
Guitar Abstraction
Picasso
Three Musicians
-32-
Three Musicians
Assemblage
26” x 23 1/2” 1 5/8”
Picasso
Solar Constellation
-33-
Star Constellation: Constellation #4
Mobile (two pieces)
24” x 26”
Picasso Constellation
-34-
Cosmic Guitar: Constellation #5
(table base included)
Assemblage
30” x 68”
Fugue for Guitar: Constellation #6 (table included)
Assemblage
30” x 72
Picasso Guitar Constellation
-35-
Picasso
Harlequin
-36-
Harlequin #1
(sits on own chair)
Assemblage/Sculpture
20” x 50 1/2” x 16”
Gris
Harlequin with Guitar
-37-
Harlequin #2 Assemblage/Sculpture
30” x 58” x 15”
Picasso
Bottle of Bass and Guitar
-38-
Guitar and Bass Ale
Assemblage
48” x 36” x 3”
Duet with Zither Assemblage
27” x 46” x 6”
Braque Violin and Harp
-39-
Picasso Guitar, Glass and Bottle
-40-
Remains of the Evening
Assemblage
39” x 31 1/2” x 6”
-41-
Ensemble Assemblage
38 1/2” x 24” x 8”
Braque
Musical Instruments
Braque
Violin and Palette
-42-
Dream of an Artist's Life Assemblage
26” x 42” x 12”
Fugue Assemblage
44” x 41” x 7”
Braque
J. S. Bach
-43-
Braque
J. S. Bach
Napoli Assemblage
20” x 57” x 8”
-44-
Braque Piano and Mandola
Girl with Mandola Assemblage
22” x 52” x 6”
Picasso
Girl with Mandolin
-45-
Picasso
Bottle, Guitar and Pipe Old Jerve
Assemblage
42” x 43” x 10”
-46-
Stuff on a Table (sits on table against wall)
Assemblage
30” x 57” x 16” (includes table)
Braque
The Round Table
-47-
Memories of Le Havre Assemblage
25” x 45 1/2” x 3”
Picasso
Le Havre
-48-
Guitar in the Studio
Assemblage
26” x 70” x 11” (includes half table)
Picasso’s Studio in 1911
-49-