Project Statement Joe Gardner

New Life
The theme of this project is new life. The shape of this object is organic, all surfaces curved. The shape of this object suggest an egg shape, or maybe the shape of a seed or fruit. After Robert Rauschenberg was discharged from the Navy he attended art school, then went to Paris in 1948 where he met Susan Weil. They were married from 1950 to 1952 and had a son together in 1951, Christopher. It is this phase of Rauschenberg's life that I wish to explore with this project, as I do not believe there is any sound evidence that Rauschenberg and Johns were lovers. I believe that some are interpting that relationship in light of their own feelings. The exterior of the object is dull white, because marriage between a husband and wife is the common practice in our society. I would also like to point out that Rauschenberg produced a set of works, the white paintings, that were only white paint on canvas. The interior is red, the color of passion. Pick the object up, it weights 7 pounds. Un-SCREW the top, there are male threads and female threads, it takes both for the top to work. There are 7 threads per an inch, the 7 year itch is said to be rooted in our biology, in our caveman days it took 7 years for a child to become self-suficient. The object is filled with rice, a symbol of fertility and prosperity, which makes guest active participants in the wedding ceremony. I believe that while a single parent can raise children a husband and wife can in most cases do a better job much easier, that goes for any other form of life-sharing.