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Image of Chandlerism #30

Alexis Smith

American
(1949–2024)

Chandlerism #30
1978

Mixed media collage
12 5/8 x 9 3/4 x 1 1/2 in.
Gift of the Kathryn C. Wanlass Foundation
2022.21.6

Chandlerism #30 juxtaposes a quote from a 1939 short story by the detective novelist Raymond Chandler with a found object—in this case a used book of matches—to create a cleaver commentary on modern life. “I’ve made stuff out of everything,” Alexis Smith once told the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Smith’s interest in collage began as a young girl; she combined scraps from junk yards and words cut from magazines to make her art projects. While studying at the University of California, Irvine, Smith constructed her own identity by trading her given name, Patricia, for “Alexis” after the 1940s movie star. Her art often commented on Hollywood’s perpetuation of the American dream. Smith passed away this year after a decade-long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

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Chandlerism #30 yuxtapone una cita de un relato corto de 1939 del escritor de novelas policíacas Raymond Chandler con un objeto encontrado–en este caso, una caja de fósforos usada–para crear un ingenioso comentario sobre la vida moderna. “He hecho cosas de todo tipo”, declaró en una ocasión Alexis Smith a los Archivos de Arte Americano del Instituto Smithsoniano. El interés de Smith por el collage comenzó de niña; combinaba restos de chatarrerías y palabras recortadas de revistas para hacer sus proyectos artísticos. Mientras estudiaba en la Universidad de California en Irvine, Smith construyó su propia identidad cambiando su verdadero nombre, Patricia, por “Alexis”, en honor a la estrella de cine de los años cuarenta. Su arte con frecuencia comentaba la perpetuación del sueño americano por parte de Hollywood. Smith falleció este año tras una década de lucha contra la enfermedad de Alzheimer.

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