Often the way art is received has much to do with the venue and in which it is seen and the description that accompanies it. In May 2010 the Crescent Hotel in San Francisco put John Phillips’ oil painting The Family Bed on permanent exhibition in the main lobby.John,
Well, first off, it has been a while. How have you been? I hope things for you have been good.
I wanted to let you know that the piece that I bought from you several years ago is now hanging in the lobby of our newest Hotel, Crescent San Francisco. I will send you pictures of how it looks. But needless to say, we love it and think it adds a lot to the space.
We would like to have a museum tag next to the piece. You of course remember it is Family Bed. Can you write something that we can have printed which would be placed next to it on the wall?
We did have one woman say that it shocked her, and appears degrading to women. Of course, we all know that art will elicit a variety of reactions from people, some good some not so good. I suppose if it didn't stir something, it wouldn't be art. But when you consider what to write, perhaps keep in mind that its a Hotel and we want to have people feel like its interesting but not necessarily controversial.
I look forward to catching up. Thanks.
Best,
Greg
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John was “hard pressed to give one because the work is about family intimacy” but thought they could use a few lines from the book “The Bed as Autobiography” where the painting appears.
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And They did
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FAMILY BED, (2000. oil on canvas) takes the subject of one's bed as a realm where extraordinary things take place -- among them, our key human rites of passage. We take to our beds to be born and to grow, to hide and to dream, to lie alone and cling together, to come of age and make love, to create and to procreate, to ail and to heal, to rest and to die.
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Having seen what was chosen John thought the venue needed a description that was somewhat different.
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Greg,
Since this is a hotel lobby, you might want to delete dying and
substitute "to rest and to sleep".
I want to make this work which, is very intimate, positive, hopeful and a public experience.
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And so it was changed.
FAMILY BED, (2000. oil on canvas)
