Works
Sturtevant Picabia’s Ballet Relâche 1967
Steve Giasson
Sturtevant Picabia’s Ballet Relâche 1967
2023
Ink and graphite on Canson paper
15" x 8.875" | 38.1 x 22.5 cm
One-day reenactment designed to mark the move of the Laroche/Joncas Gallery, after more than 15 years spent in the Belgo building, Montreal.
Installation view, Galerie Laroche/Joncas, July 1st, 2023.
Photo credit: Steve Giasson. Photo retouching: Jean-Michael Seminaro.
"Around 1967, Sturtevant restaged Francis Picabia’s ballet Relâche at the School of Visual Arts. The first performance of the work had to be cancelled in 1924, supposedly because the lead dancer had been taken ill. Many doubted the sincerity of the proposition due to the title, though the work went on to be performed. Duchamp knew of the original and, intrigued, he went to Sturtevant’s performance. He left the taxi running with Teeny waiting outside. The SVA event was called off. Some days later, over dinner, he asked Sturtevant if all had gone to plan. She answered, ‘Yes, fine thank you.’ Duchamp offered, ‘That is quite beautiful.’ And she and her work very much were, each in their own way."
Slyce, John, "STURTEVANT 1924-2014", Art Monthly, London, N° 377, (Jun 2014): 15.
