Robert Ashley (Detroit Portrait series)
Artist
Kurt Novak
(American)
Date2003 - 2005
MediumArchival pigment print on cotton rag paper
DimensionsPaper Size: 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Frame Size: 22 1/2 × 26 1/2 in. (57.2 × 67.3 cm)
ClassificationsPhotograph
Object numberUAC6104
DescriptionRobert Ashley has been called a “pioneer in modern American opera.” Born and educated in Ann Arbor, Ashley’s musical reputation is heralded as a link to past musical revolutionaries such as Claudio Monteverdi, Richard Wagner, and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Electronic sounds, computer modulations, and spoken word are all distinctions of Ashley’s innovative technique. Ashley is most well known for his series Perfect Lives (1980), a seven part “opera for television” comprised of spoken word performed by Ashley detailing both the complexities and simplicities of modern American life in the late 20th century. Ashley plays upon the stereotype of American attention spans by providing short, easy to interpret video clips and dialogue for those with limited focus. These short clips comprise an even larger idea, one that is meant for interpretation by viewers seeking a challenge. Much like traditional opera, Perfect Lives has many layers of understanding. Ashley received several awards for his innovative musical visions, including the 2002 John Cage Award for Music and the 2008 Letter of Distinction from the American Music Center.Collections
