Reflecting on Dan Flavin

1960s Artists Controversies Exhibitions Jan van der Marck

Rhona Hoffman discusses Dan Flavin's first museum exhibition.

There was a show—the first Flavin show, which was Dan Flavin's first museum show. We acted as guards. We sat behind the desk and greeted people. I remember Lindy Bergman vacuuming the area in the front of the gallery. People would come in and look around and they'd say, "Are you open?" And there was the Flavin show. Because it was one room, when we turned left there was another room. But Flavin was not known, and then Jan van der Marck—who was our brilliant director—decided that he would have people put three-by-five cards at the front desk and people could write their reactions to the Flavin show. And since this is a PG-rating thing, I can't repeat some of the comments. But it was very interesting.

Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.

Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.
Comment card from Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold: "Charging admission to view this exhibition is a swindle exceeded only by the white man's purchase of the island of Manhattan for $23." Image courtesy of the MCA Library and Archives.

Comment card from Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold: “Charging admission to view this exhibition is a swindle exceeded only by the white man’s purchase of the island of Manhattan for $23.” Image courtesy of the MCA Library and Archives.
Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.

Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.
Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.

Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.
Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.

Installation view, Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold, MCA Chicago. Photo: David Van Riper, © MCA Chicago.
Comment card from Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold: "It seems to me that you are asking quite a bit of both the bulbs and the viewer. The floor is probably the most interesting part of the exhibit." Image courtesy of the MCA Library and Archives.

Comment card from Dan Flavin: Pink and Gold: “It seems to me that you are asking quite a bit of both the bulbs and the viewer. The floor is probably the most interesting part of the exhibit.” Image courtesy of the MCA Library and Archives.

Related Stories