EYE CANDY

Return to Sender


Ray Johnson

After his pal Andy Warhol got shot in 1968, Ray Johnson moved away from New York and settled in a farmhouse on Long Island. But the rascally artist—who in being so constantly referred to as the most famous artist no one’s heard of, actually became rather famous—fed off the city’s energy too much to recede entirely, so he started the New York Correspondence School, mailing artworks to colleagues and collaborators, to which they would add or respond. This Wednesday night, June 3, there will be a reception for Performa’s “re-activation” of Johnson’s mail art program. Go celebrate with drinks and hot dogs—an homage to the time the prankster artist dropped 60 footlongs from a helicopter over the East River. Some jokes never die.

“Please Add to and Return to,” presented by Performa in collaboration with the Ray Johnson Estate, is ongoing currently. Richard L. Feigen & Co. is located at 34 E. 69th Street, New York.

1

Untitled (Max Ernst with Toothbrush), 1974-92. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.

2

“Starn Twins” mailing by AK, 1989. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

3

Rimbaud mailing by Gregory Abbott, 1971. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

4

Untitled (Fred Astaire Cornell’s Daffodil), 1972-82-85-86-90-91+. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

5

Untitled (Dear Marilyn Monroe, To: Chuck Close), 1980, 8.12.94. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

6

Anonymous “Hair to Cher” mailing, c. 1985. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

7

Cher Chair, 1985. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

8

Anonymous “Starn Twins” mailing, c. 1989. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.

9

Anonymous “Bat Tub” Mailing, c. 1987-89. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

10

Anonymous Ray Johnson silhouette drawing, possibly by Ray Johnson, c. 1980s. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..

11

“Starn Twins” mailing by AK, 1989. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.

12

Anonymous “Hair to Cher” mailing, c. 1985. © The Ray Johnson Estate, Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co..