Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 14:14:05 -0700
From: biomorph-AT-ix.netcom.com (Wm. Dubin)
Subject: Re: electronic exhibition


You wrote: 
>
>Carlos asked if Jean-Jacques would be able to contact Jaguer. I 
>suspect that, although they live in the same city, this would be more 
>difficult than if someone else contacted him. 
>
>Although I do not know the origins of the argument between the Paris 
>group and Jaguer, it would seem to be a fairly definitive split on 
>both sides. I do not think that with Jean-Jacques' relations with the 
>group he would be very sympathetically recieved. It is far better 
>that someone else contact him, preferably someone who knows him. In 
>the context of the discussion group, I think that just means either 
>William or Michael Vandelaar.
>
>
I will be happy to contact Jaguer, however, I would advise that long 
before this is done, we, as a group, come to a more fully realised 
plan, both in terms of its scope (the thing Stuart wrote about long 
ago), and in terms of more specific areas. In this case, I am thinking 
SPECIFICALLY about such things as, do we exhibit non-living artists? 
(This is important, as fully 80% of the artists Jaguer represents are 
non-living). Do we exhibit work by still living artists, which was done 
5 - 10 -15 - 20...years ago? Do we exhibit work by artists, which IS 
surrealist, but THEY no longer are? These questions would IMMEADIATELY 
need answering in terms of who to ask Jaguer to contact.

I will be, in October, going to Paris, and I will be seeing Edouard, as 
well as the members of Groupe de Paris du Mouvement Surrealiste, some 
of the artists who are "friends" of this group (but who do not consider 
themselves to be surrealists AS CURRENTLY DEFINED BY Groupe de 
Paris...) and painters who have exhibited with PHASES but who may or 
may not be still connected to Jaguer. I will also be meeting Jose` 
Pierre, and (although he and Jaguer no longer speak, and I assume he 
and Groupe de Paris... don't speak - either), I can act as something of 
a liasion for everyone. Pierre Petiot will also be comming to Paris, I 
hope, at this time, and he can certainly help bridge the language gaps 
and art-wars. Then I will be meeting with Stuart, and others in London.

Stuart has several times mentioned what he refers to as the "argument", 
in references to artists and groups. I can only tell you, that this 
goes very deep. Not speaking French, I blundered my way through 
situations that were immensely embarresing to everyone, until my errors 
could be explained to me. I won't pretend to understand whats going on, 
but it absolutely exists.

The solution to this, which I believe Carlos once mentioned, is to 
invite these large groupes and seperate individuals, and if some can't 
live with others being in, then its their choice, HOWEVER, I feel we 
ought to be offerring something far more concrete, than just a vague 
announcement of our intentions. 

Wm.