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Exclusive AP: Stephen Hawking's wheelchair, thesis for sale
By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press
Monday, October 22
LONDON (AP) – Stephen Hawking was a cosmic visionary, a figure of inspiration and a global celebrity.
His unique status is reflected in an upcoming auction of some of the physicist's possessions: It includes complex scientific papers, one of the world's most iconic wheelchairs and a script from "The Simpsons."
The online sale announced Monday by auction Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe, some of his many awards, and scientific papers such as "Spectrum of Wormholes" and "Fundamental Breakdown of Physics in Gravitational Collapse . "
Thomas Venning, head of books and manuscripts at Christie's, said the papers "trace the development of his thought – this brilliant, electrifying intelligence."
"You can see it, and it's going to the scientific community," Venning said.
Of course, Hawking's fame rests only partly on his scientific status.
Diagnosed with motor neuron disease at 22 and given just a few years to live, he survived for decades, dying in March at 76.
The Cambridge University Ph.D. thesis, "Properties of Expanding Universes," which offers an estimated price of 100,000 pounds to 150,000 pounds ($ 130,000 to $ 195,000).
Venning said the thesis, signed by Hawking in handwriting made by his illness, is both a key document in the physicist's scientific evolution and a glimpse into his personal story.
"He was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) just as he arrived in Cambridge to begin his Ph.D. studies," Venning said. "He gave up his studies for a time because he was so despondent.
The thesis "Venning said," and Hawking "kept it close to him for the rest of his life."
The disease eventually left Hawking almost completely paralyzed. He communicated through a voice-generating computer and moved into a series of high-tech wheelchairs. One is included in the sale, with an estimated price of 10,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds ($ 13,000 to $ 19,500). Stephen Hawking Foundation and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Venning said the wheelchair became a symbol of disability but of Hawking's "puckish sense of humor." He once again ran Prince Charles's hat. a "Monty Python" skit running down fellow physicist Brian Cox.
Venning said Hawking "very much thought of being a scientist first and a second communicator second," but accepted and even enjoyed his celebrity status. He appeared several times on an animated comedy show "The Simpsons" and kept a figurine of himself from the show in his office.
Hawking's "Simpson's" appearances, a copy of his bestseller "A Brief History of Time" signed with a thumbprint and a personalized documentary that he wore in a documentary.
Hawking's daughter Lucy said the sale has "admirers of his work the chance to acquire a memento of our father's extraordinary life in the shape of a small selection of evocative and fascinating items."
Hawking's children hope to preserve their scientific archive for the nation. Christie's is handling negotiations in the United Kingdom in place of inheritance tax.
The items – part of a science that includes papers by Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein – will be on display in London for October 30. The auction is open for bids between Oct. 31 and Nov. 8.
Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JillLawless
The Conversation
Banksy and the tradition of destroying art
October 19, 2018
Author: Preminda Jacob, Associate Professor of Art History and Museum Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Disclosure statement: Preminda Jacob does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has not disclosed any affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Partners: University of Maryland, Baltimore County provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.
When the British street artist Banksy shredded his "Girl With Balloon" after it was purchased for US $ 1.4 million at Sotheby's, did he know how the art world would react?
Did he anticipate that the critics would claim that the work, in its partially shredded state, would climb in value to at least $ 2 million? That the purchaser would not object and will it instead rejoice?
We have no way of really knowing, but the famously anonymous artist has suggested that the shredder malfunctioned: The painting was supposed to be fully shredded, not partially destroyed.
As an art historian, I see his act in a larger context as the authors of the exhibition of their tactics to expose their disdain for the critics, dealers, gallery owners and museum curators whom they depend on for their livelihood.
In shredding "Girl With Balloon," Banksy seems to be pointing to a central absurdity of his graffiti art being treated as fine art. When it appears on city streets, anyone can vandalize it; The same pictures are in galleries and auction houses, they must be handled with white gloves.
But, he can well know, the art market is far too wealthy and adaptable to be undone by a shredder.
In fact, we've seen the same pattern play out, time and again: An artist will launch a withering criticism and instead of taking offense, the market simply tightens its embrace.
The many versions of subversion
Some of the most well-known of Banksy's subversive artistic predecessors were part of the early-20th century Dada movement. One of their main strategies involved denying the market of things that could be commodified.
French-American artist Marcel Duchamp is perhaps the most well-known Dadaist. In 1917, his "Fountain," has a ugly head on its back and is remounted on a pedestal, was his first volley against the art market's intellectual pretenses about art.
Duchamp wanted to force the art world to acknowledge that its judgments about quality are based on media hype and money rather than artistic innovation.
However, years later Duchamp is admitted to the futility of his gesture.
"I threw … the urinal into their faces as a challenge," he lamented, "and now they admire [it] for [its] aesthetic beauty. "
In 1920, Francis Picabia, a Cuban-French Dadaist would follow Duchamp's lead and participate in a performance purposefully designed to provoke the French art world.
Before a Parisian audience gathered at the Holiday Palace, Picabia unveiled a chalk drawing entitled "Rice on the Nose". The artist's friend, André Breton, one of the hosts of the event, then erased the drawing. The artwork lasted for just a couple of years. The work's title, it's been noted, sounds too similar to "laugh in the face" to coincidental.
In 1953, Robert Rauschenberg, who was then an up-and-coming American artist, plucked up the courage to ask Willem de Kooning, an established abstract expressionist, for one of his drawings. Rauschenberg did not tell Kooning much – just what he intended for an unusual project. Athough of Kooning was disapproving, he acquiesced.
After securing his gift, Rauschenberg proceeded, over the period of a month, to carefully erase all traces of the expressive pencil, charcoal and pencil drawing that of Kooning had put to paper.
Rauschenberg then re-titled the work, now preserved in the San Francisco Museum of Art collection, "Erased from Kooning Drawing."
Jean Tinguely's self-destructing work, "Homage to New York" (1960), is probably the closest parallel to Banksy's stunt. Made of scrap found in New Jersey junkyards, the massive work – 27 feet high and 23 feet in length – a mechanical display, sort of like a Rube Goldberg device.
New York 's Museum of Modern Art, New York' s Museum of Modern Art and Walter Arensberg and John D. Rockefeller III, and artists John Cage, Mark Rothko and Robert Rauschenberg.
Tinguely briefly set the piece in motion – and then it burst into flames.
The Museum of Modern Art
"… a meteorological trial balloon inflated and burst, colored smoke was discharged, paintings were made and destroyed, and bottles crashed to the ground. A piano player, metal drums, a radio broadcast, a recording of the artist explaining his work, and a competing shrill voice correcting him the cacophonic sound track to the machine's self-destruction – until it was stopped by the fire department. "
Apart from a fragment from Tinguely's "Homage" preserved in the MoMA collection, all that remains of the work is some choppy film footage.
Homeage to New York 'before it disappeared forever.
It's hard to imagine anyone overpassing Tinguely's sound-and-light show.
But in 2001, Michael Landy of the Young British Artists group orchestrated the most comprehensive "art as destruction" work to date.
Titled "Break Down," Landy placed on a conveyor belt running into a machine that pulverized them. In the process, he destroyed all of his belongings – 7,227 pieces in all – including his own paintings and the art of his Young British Artist peers.
Guerrillas in the midst
These acts of destruction are motivated by the same impulse.
In the late 19th century, art production became largely untethered from patronage offered by the church or the state, and artists turned to powerful art dealers for their livelihood.
But many found that the radical, critical aspect of the art is severely compromised – or erased altogether – when the most well-known feature of a work has become signified to it.
To many, the market symbolized nothing more than a void.
With the urban street as its studio and insurgency as part of its artistic mission, Banksy's graffiti often criticizes institutions, such as the art museum, and authority figures like the police) and the Queen of England.
Banksy continues to paint images in public spaces that make it impossible to keep up – and even invites theft or defacement.
Still, as guerrilla theater, Banksy's recent act will be tough to beat. It's certainly his most subversive and penetrating public foray into the elite art marketplace.
But even with all his criticism, the question continues to be: Is Banksy complicit with the art market? The very society he undermines, one that feeds one's show, has made him famous and his art immensely profitable.
In the wake of World War I, Dadaist artists made a practice of shocking their audiences by wantonly destroying their own artistic creations. The public became more aware of the fact that they were detaching themselves from the attackers.
A century later, at Sotheby's, the initial shock of a shredded "Girl With Balloon" dissipated quickly. The hype only grew. The market adapted.
Sotheby's has made a statement that the piece – renamed "Love is in the Bin" – is "the first artwork in history to be created live during an auction."
Comments
Terrence Treft: thanks for the interesting article. in the case of rauschenberg, he did not destroy the idea of making his own work, but of the tinguely and banksy, the "destruction" was an original aspect of the work itself and its design. Without it, the works would be incomplete, like a missing brush stroke, but on a larger scale. the banksy is not even destroyed, it is intensified, becoming more relevant and valuable. banksy now says the shredder malfunctioned, unlike in rehearsals in the studio, when the paper was completely shredded. a fortunate serendipity, for the new owner. but there was some collusion in this piece, for sotheby undoubtedly noticed the unusual casing of the frame and its weight. even viewers would have noticed it standing forward of the wall.
Bob Bruce: Surely the point of destruction of the artwork – is a product of the art world. A simple mark up rights this wrong.
AG DeWine, Prevent Blindness, Ohio Vision Professional Board Warn Against Dangerous Cosmetic Contacts
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness, and the Ohio Vision Professionals Board have joined forces to warn consumers about the dangers of wearing a prescription.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 45 million people in the United States wear contact lenses. Many consumers may not be aware of the fact that they are infected by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Additionally, the FDA states that they are not over-the-counter (OTC) devices and companies that mishandle such devices as they do.
"Wearing contacts without a prescription to a person's eyes," Attorney General DeWine said. "Non-prescription contacts can add creativity to a suit or bring convenience to a person's routine, but they can also cause serious harm. I encourage consumers to buy contacts from a professional eye care. Your eyesight is too important to risk using non-prescription contacts. "
The Ohio Vision Professionals Board can not wait illegally online – including on the most popular gold craigslist, via Facebook – or in costume stores, tattoo parlors, beauty stores, truck stops, wig shops, gas stations, convenience stores, gold thrift stores.
Kathleen Eagan, Executive Director of the Ohio Vision Professionals Board, says, "The Ohio Vision Professionals Board takes the risks of buying over-the-counter contact lenses very seriously. We are proud to share with you the importance of educating people about the dangers of having contact with them. If you are aware of it, please contact the Vision Professionals Board. "
Contact lenses are a good option for many as an alternative to eyeglasses. However, the use of contact lenses also has higher risk of infections. Causes may include sleeping in the eye when not approved by an eye doctor.
Ill-fitting lenses can cause eye pain, bacterial infections, and corneal ulcers. One of the most likely causes of keratitis, a possible blinding infection that causes an ulcer in the eye. This increased risk was better than those seen in the correcting ("regular") lenses.
"It can be tempting to create a unique look for Halloween or other social events by changing the look of your eyes. But beware that using a cosmetic contact lens is a problem for the patient. Infections, scarring and even blindness can result, "said Sherry Williams, President and CEO of The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness.
"I've seen many young patients who have been aware of the dangers of these products and are now living with permanent vision loss," said Thomas L. Steinemann, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University / MetroHealth Medical Center. Prevent Blindness volunteer. "Even if the lenses are cosmetic or non-correcting, they are still classified as medical devices and should only be prescribed by an eye care professional."
Prevent Blindness offers the following safety tips regarding cosmetic contact lenses
Always visit a licensed professional eye contact lenses.
Never buy contact lenses without a prescription.
Always clean and disinfect contact lenses according to instructions.
Always use water-soluble cosmetics or those labeled safe for use with contact lenses. Do not apply skin creams or moisturizers too close to the eyes.
Never wear opaque lenses if you have any problems with night vision.
Never share or trade your contact lenses with anyone.
Seek medical attention right away and remove your eyes. Be watchful about your child's or teens' appearance. If they are wearing cosmetic contacts, they are where they got them.
The non-profit group has a dedicated webpage with free information.
Attorney General DeWine encourages Ohioans to report to the Ohio Vision Professionals Board at 614-466-9709. As a senator, DeWine has advocated that the laws of the United States require the best of the world, including remedial and non-corrective lenses.
AAA Urges Lawmakers to Make Ohio's Roads Safer
House Bill 293 will save lives by modernizing
COLUMBUS, Ohio (October 18, 2018) – Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers, and the problem is getting worse. Teen crash rates in Ohio, putting everyone at risk. In advance of Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 21-27), AAA encourages lawmakers to pass important lifesaving legislation that will make Ohio's roads by Ohio.
A series of press events and rallies are being held in Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus today to support this cause. The Columbus event will take place at 10 am at the Ohio State House in the Senate Press Room.
"Said Kellie O'Riordan, traffic safety program manager for AAA Ohio," said Kellie O'Riordan, "they are failing families." . "It has not kept up with the latest research on crashes and how to prevent them."
Ohio's Teen Crash Epidemic:
The number of people killed or injured in Ohio crashes jumped 15 percent in just two years. In 2017, 116 teens died in crashes on Ohio's roads. New teen drivers, ages 16-17 are in danger of death.
It's an issue that impacts everyone, as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found two-thirds of those injured or killed in crashes involving teen drivers are people other than the teen driver.
Inexperience accounts for a large number of teen crashes. Nighttime driving is especially dangerous for these young novice drivers.
The Solution:
House Bill 293, Gary Scherer (R) and Representative Michael Sheehy (D), proposed to make Ohio 's safer roads for all drivers by providing teens with more experience. Specifically, the bill will:
Ensuring teens gain experience with a year-long learner's permit.
Give young driver driving safety at night, driving at night, driving at night, driving at night, driving at 10 pm, rather than midnight.
The nighttime driving protection is not a curfew. Newly licensed teen drivers can still drive after 10 p.m., with an adult present. The bill also provides exemptions for a young driver's license to drive from school or school after 10 p.m.
A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study confirms the importance of having an adult driver to help guide young novice drivers. The study found that when a teen driver has died in their vehicle, the fatality rate has increased 51 percent. In contrast, when older passengers (35 or older), the overall mortality rate decreased by 8 percent.
Support for Change:
"The increase in practical experience offered by H.B. will help drivers gain vehicle-handling skills," said Susan Hans, President, Ohio PTA. "We believe that parents are very supportive of additional driving experience to ensure teen safety."
A 2013 AAA survey found 90 percent of Ohio parents with teenagers supported at 10 pm nighttime driving protection. After North Carolina enrolled 12-month learner's permit, 95 percent of parents surveyed said 12 months was just right or not long enough.
H.B. 293 passed out of the Ohio House Transportation and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 28, 2018 and has been awaiting a House floor vote. The bill must pass the House and Senate by the end of the year in order to become law.
A coalition of more than 50 organizations, including AAA, the insurance industry, law enforcement, hospitals, teens, and the Parent Teacher Association, is urging lawmakers to take action. The bill has no known opponents.
A book, and scripts by Stephen Hawking are among the personal and academic possessions of Stephen Hawking at Christies in London, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The online auction is being opened Monday Oct. 22, 2018, by auctioneer Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origin of the universe, with the sale scheduled for 31 October and 8 November. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
https://www.sunburynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2018/10/web1_121616717-d19013de65da46bb9a97b0bfe7907fd9.jpgA book, and scripts by Stephen Hawking are among the personal and academic possessions of Stephen Hawking at the auction house Christies in London, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The online auction auction Monday Oct. 22, 2018, by Christie auctioneer's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe, with the sale scheduled for October 31 and 8 November. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
A book, signed with a thumbnail Stephen Hawking, Stephen Hawking, Christie in London, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The online auction Monday Oct. 22 , 2018, by auctioneer Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the originals of the universe, with the sale scheduled for 31 October and 8 November. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
https://www.sunburynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2018/10/web1_121616717-c85ee26ea1d740c6ba6188567afe13ab.jpgA Book, signed with a thumb print by Stephen Hawking is one of the personal and academic possessions of Stephen Hawking , Christie in London, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The online auction auction Monday Oct. 22, 2018, by auctioneer Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe , with the sale scheduled for 31 October and 8 November. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
A book, written and corrected with handwritten annotation by Stephen Hawking is one of the personal and academic possessions of Stephen Hawking on Christies in London, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The online auction published Monday Oct. 22, 2018, by auctioneer Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe, with the sale scheduled for 31 October and 8 November. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
https://www.sunburynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2018/10/web1_121616717-8c75736111ea4427b6f2e5b64ef1da1d.jpgA Book, written and corrected with handwritten annotation by Stephen Hawking is one of the personal and academic possessions of Stephen Christie in London, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The online auction auction Monday Oct. 22, 2018, by auctioneer Christie's features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe, with the sale scheduled for 31 October and 8 November. (AP Photo / Frank Augstein)
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