A studio visit with Rob Tarbell exploring his latest work with Matthew McLendon, curator of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Ringling Museum of Art.
Rob Tarbell, Farrahbarino Major from the series All Ages, smoke, acrylic on paper, 44” x 30″, 2014Rob Tarbell, A Better America from the series All Ages, smoke, acrylic on canvas, 32” x 24”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Diver from the series All Ages, smoke, acrylic on paper, 44” x 30”, 2014Rob Tarbell, Deepa 2 from the series All Ages, smoke on paper, 30” x 22”, 2014Rob Tarbell, Frank from the series All Ages, smoke, acrylic on canvas, 44” x 27”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Tinnitus from the series All Ages, smoke, acrylic on canvas, 24” x 36”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Vulteur from the series All Ages, smoke, acrylic on canvas, 44” x 27”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Mike from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2014Rob Tarbell, Kiss Mike from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2014Rob Tarbell, Banksy: October 20, 2014 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2014Rob Tarbell, Suspect from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2014
Failure to Appear 1 – 7 were created by encouraging and discouraging the flow of smoke and, ultimately, capturing it on the surface of paper. By exploiting aspects of silkscreen technique, the image is repeated, yet each piece is unique. The seven in this group begin with the original pristine mugshot and progress in degradation to the final remnant. Through the smoking process, holes were accidentally burned in the screen allowing more soot to accumulate. With each new piece, the resulting hole was blocked, discouraging the flow of smoke from filling the old damage while covering and exposing its history. This blocking and smoking process was repeated six times until the entire screen had deteriorated and the image was virtually unrecognizable.
Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 1 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 2 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 3 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 4 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 5 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 6 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013Rob Tarbell, Failure to Appear 7 from the series Failure to Appear, smoke on paper, 60” x 40”, 2013
