Rock and Roll
Artist
Robert Sestok
(American, born 1946)
Date1978-79
MediumOil on canvas, cable and flourescent lights
Dimensions52 1/2 × 165 × 16 in. (133.4 × 419.1 × 40.6 cm)
ClassificationsWall Relief
Credit LineGift of James Pearson Duffy, 1992
Object numberUAC1384
DescriptionThis vibrant sculpture exudes the idea of movement and raw energy. This assemblage represents the timelessness of the genre and the work itself. The glow of the LEDs that come from within radiate luminosity and a sense of vigor. The jagged parts of the canvas juxtaposed against the smooth run of the cable wire create two types of movement and overall, emulate the vitality of the genre. The rhythmic pieces of canvas collaborate with the flowy run of the cable wire so that your eyes never rest in a single spot. The different colors of paint emanate the electric atmosphere of rock and roll and exhibits the same silver metallic color definite of the music scene. Robert Sestok is a pillar of the Cass Corridor artists and is still an active member of the art community today. Rock and Roll was made by Sestok in 1978 in his studio which was once located on Cass Avenue. This work was the only kinetic piece Sestok made for Jim Duffy’s warehouse collection. Originally, the work was imbued with fluorescent tube lights but more recently, the lights were upgraded to LEDs to create a halo glow effect. The work was a combination of four different elements: paintings, frames, lighting, and a conduit tube used to recreate a drawing effect. Jim Duffy, who played an integral part in supporting the Cass Corridor artists, allowed Sestok to create many different types of artworks in his warehouse from 1972 to 1985. The work once hung, on loan, to Huntington Place (Detroit’s Convention Center) but now resides in the Hilberry Gateway Theatre at Wayne State University.
Written by Collen Sikorski
