When Hurricane Sandy hit the north east coast of the United States last October, Printed Matter, a New York-based organisation that disseminates artists’ publications, found itself severely affected. Flooding to the basement of its headquarters in Manhattan resulted in the loss of 9,000 books and significant damage to an archive that dates back to the 1970s.
In an effort to establish a more durable foundation for its services into the future, Printed Matter is holding a Benefit Auction and Selling Exhibition at the Rauschenberg Foundation Project Space in the city. The exhibition previews tonight (28 February) and closes with a live auction of selected works at a benefit event on 9 March. An online auction will take place until 9 March.
The exhibition features rare publications and artworks by Marcel Duchamp, Willem de Kooning, Joseph Beuys, and Sol LeWitt, while online there are works by Richard Prince, Hans Haacke, Carl Andre, Cecily Brown and Cory Arcangel included among the 120 donated works available. All works can also be viewed on selected dates at the Rauschenberg Foundation.
Printed Matter was founded in 1976 by artists and art workers with the mission to foster the appreciation, dissemination, and understanding of artists’ books and other artists’ publications.
Sandy Relief Benefit Auction and Exhibition, preview 28 February, 6-8pm, Rauschenberg Foundation Project Space, New York City. For full details of the exhibition, auctions and benefit event see www.printedmatter.org
