Jack Goldstein Retrospective Reveals Artist's Restless Journey Through Late 20th Century American Art

Jack Goldstein's artistic journey began in the early 1970s with sculptural works made from commercial lumber, evolving into the 1980s when he created paintings that depicted natural disasters as dark silhouettes. He was a student of John Baldessari at CalArts in the early '70s and participated in Douglas Crimp's 1977 exhibition Pictures. During the vibrant 1980s art scene, Goldstein exhibited at Metro Pictures alongside notable artists like Cindy Sherman and Robert Longo. His creative output transitioned from short performance films to 45rpm records featuring appropriated sound effects and directing short films that explored visual and auditory norms. One notable film showcased a stunt dog barking on cue, while another reimagined the MGM lion, cleverly referencing the studio's motto 'Ars gratia artis.' His later works comprised typed and formatted text compilations, culminating in a reduction to simplified logo and form. The exhibition catalogue delves into Goldstein's strategic withdrawal, highlighting his role as an unseen influence over film crews and assistants who airbrushed his paintings. He lived as a recluse in a trailer in East LA for his final decade before taking his own life in 2003. This review was first published in the September 2013 issue of ArtReview.