Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends at MoMA Artistic Collaboration & Exploration

The remarkable & expansive show at MoMA "Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends" compiles Rauschenberg's artworks over 6 decades.  The exhibit is a combination of his work, that of his peers and collaborative pieces.  The most impressive takeaway from this fascinating collection is the collaborative sharing & exchanging of ideas.  Rauschenberg worked with musicians, choreographers, photographers, etc.  The dance collaborations between Merce Cunningham & Trish Brown resulted in exhilarating performances.  There are photos of Rauschenberg dancing and photos he took of dancers that are sensational.  The dance videos are well worth spending time watching.  Scores were composed by John Cage & Morton Feldman.  Feldman's music can be heard in the 2nd gallery.  Feldman stated "My intention was to think of melody & motivic fragments somewhat the way Robert Rauschenberg uses photography in his painting."  Other artists with whom Rauschenberg worked jointly were Johns, Rothko, Albers, Twombly, Susan Weil, Niki Saint Phalle and Duchamp.  Many of these artists' works are on display.   Rauschenberg created "An Homage to Jean Tinguely's Homage to New York."  Both pieces are situated next to each other.  Rauschenberg's red paintings were my favorites.  It's remarkable how these great artists fed off each other's ideas & techniques.  Rather than a competitive, isolated working environment, these artists were able to experiment, evolve and create something richer from having combined their talents.  Furthermore, this exhibit illustrates art as an interdisciplinary milieu of expression.   To end the relentless debate of whether some of Rauschenberg's works were paintings or sculptures he coined the term "Combines."  Rauschenberg was aware of the unobserved beauty found in the mundane.  The structures made from cardboard boxes are extraordinary.  In later years, Rauschenberg became fascinated with technology & design and merged these elements into his art.  I was taken by the gauzy work "Glacier" (Hoarfrost 1974) with its translucent radiance.  Hoarfrost refers to the phenomena of dew freezing & forming ice crystals.  The works have a transformative power and a "quietness in the ordinary."  Johns & Rauschenberg shared a very intense relationship.  "Jasper & I literally traded ideas. He'd say I've got a terrific idea for you and then I'd have to find one for him."  (RR)