David White, long-time curator for Robert Rauschenberg and for the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, discusses his early childhood in New Jersey and later, Cape Cod, as well as his time at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He describes working in galleries in New York in the mid-1960s and curating shows with David Whitney in the 1970s. He talks about first coming to work for Rauschenberg as regi strar and describes the workflow: the filing system he devised, process photographs, condition reports, and documentation on loans. He talks about the growth of the entire enterprise, the various staff members and others who made up Rauschenberg's entourage. He reflects on how the Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange (ROCI) came about and his experiences on some of those trips. White discusses the initial stages of the Foundation and Rauschenberg's involvement. He talks about Rauschenberg's dyslexia, his friendships with other artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Merce Cunningham, his relationship with art critics and criticism of his work, and his advocacy of governmental support for the arts. He reflects on Rauschenberg's influence on his own life, both professionally and personally. There is audio only for session 1-3
Abstract expressionism--20th century--United States; Art museum curators--20th century--United States; Museum curators; Museum registrars; Artists and art museum curators; Lower East Side (New York, N.Y.); Captiva Island (Fla.); White, David (Curator); Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008; Robert Rauschenberg Foundation; Rhode Island School of Design; Leo Castelli Gallery; Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2013
Physical Description
260 pages
Note (Biographical)
David White was the curator for Rauschenberg from 1980 until the artist's death in 2008. He is now senior curator at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and has overseen Rauschenberg exhibitions, publications, and projects over the last thirty years. P rior to joining Rauschenberg's studio, White worked for both the Leo Castelli Gallery and the David Whitney Gallery. Following the close of the gallery, White continued to work for Whitney who, as an independent curator, organized retrospective exhibitions of Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, and the first exhibition of Andy Warhol's portraits, all at the Whitney Museum of American Art. White is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design
Note
Interviewed by James McElhinney on July 23, July 31, August 1, and August 14, 2013
Note (Provenance)
David White, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2019