Kay Rosen: Lists, 1989-2021

OPEN, ORB ORIFICE, DONUT, GLOBE, HOLE, WHOLE, HALO, ZERO – The edition is designed to be a wall painting and comes in a kit, ready-to-paint. It reflects the artist’s interest in how letter forms inadvertently inform meaning. “O” forms a linguistic part of each word, while also single-handedly suggesting the meaning of the word through its shape (such as roundness through “orb,” or a void, as in “hole”) and through its sound (in seven of the nine words the O is long), In each word the letter O shares linguistic, visual, and audial functions.

OPEN, ORB ORIFICE, DONUT, GLOBE, HOLE, WHOLE, HALO, ZERO – The edition is designed to be a wall painting and comes in a kit, ready-to-paint. It reflects the artist’s interest in how letter forms inadvertently inform meaning. “O” forms a linguistic part of each word, while also single-handedly suggesting the meaning of the word through its shape (such as roundness through “orb,” or a void, as in “hole”) and through its sound (in seven of the nine words the O is long), In each word the letter O shares linguistic, visual, and audial functions.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.

LISTE/LISTA/LIST was made for a group exhibition at Randolph Street Gallery in Chicago in 1992 titled “Multiples ’92.” The artist’s contribution was a selection of over twenty classic French and Spanish paperback books whose covers had been screenprinted with her texts: the reprised “Liste/List” (from the 1990 List Portfolio) and a newly created Spanish/English version titled “Lista/List” comprised of Spanish/English words. The dual-language texts consists of a prose-stye list of French or Spanish words that look like English words, followed by their translated counterparts (rue/street or come/eats). The lists appear to be a sort of glossary for the contents of the books, when in reality their linguistic ambiguity prevents any useful guidance. The sound and meaning of the words contradict their visual commonality and demonstrate the fragility of cross-cultural communication.