Mark Bradford

This beautifully illustrated book documents Picketts Charge, an ambitious and timely project by renowned artist Mark Bradford. Eight new paintings extend nearly four hundred feet to form a 360-degree experience encircling an entire floor of the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. Bradfords monumental installation is inspired by the 1883 cyclorama painted by Paul Philippoteaux to commemorate the Battle of Gettysburg, which has been considered the critical turning point of the Civil War and, consequently, of American history. Elements from Philippoteauxs paintings are among multiple layers of collaged paper that Bradford has scraped through to reveal hidden textures and complexities, and this interplaybetween past and present, between the legible and the mysteriously evocativeencourages a reconsideration of historys conventional linear narratives. The catalogue features an interview with the artist by Stphane Aquin and an essay by Evelyn Hankins that situates the site-specific project within a broader art historical context. With lavish images of the paintings and their installation, including two gatefolds, this book records a significant new contribution to socially engaged American art. Published in association with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Exhibition Schedule: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (11/08/1711/12/18)