Virtual Author Talk: Carolyn Russo
Art in Flight: Reinventing Postmodernism
Thursday, October 08
1:00pm - 2:00pm
In an online author talk, Smithsonian curator Carolyn Russo discusses her book "The Ascent of Rauschenberg." Register to receive the link to join and submit questions.
Acclaimed author and Smithsonian curator Carolyn Russo dives into her book, The Ascent of Rauschenberg. Explore the towering legacy, unexpected inspirations, and creative heights of one of America's most influential artistic icons.
Most famous for his groundbreaking "Combines"—painting and sculpture hybrids that often incorporated everyday objects—American artist Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) created within a range of mediums, including collage, performance, photography, and printmaking. But a connective tissue through it all was his fascination with flight. The Ascent of Rauschenberg explores the flight motif across his work, spanning birds, insects, aviation, spaceflight, sensory experiences, and metaphors for his own life.
More than 150 images reveal the vibrant scope of Rauschenberg's work, from lithographs inspired by the Apollo 11 launch that NASA invited him to witness and document, to a Combine featuring a taxidermied eagle that evokes Roman mythology. Nine accompanying essays reflect on his many flight themes and subtleties that might otherwise be overlooked. The book also includes archival photographs and personal papers from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.
Carolyn Russo is curator of the art collection at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. She has lectured internationally on the subject of art and flight and is the author of several publications including The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight; Art of the Airport Tower; In Plane View: Abstractions of Flight; and Women and Flight: Portraits of Contemporary Women Pilots.
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