Viewing and Interpreting The Codex 67 Series

ewing, Interpreting, and Understanding t
Composition Series
A Presentation by the Artist

Viewing, Interpreting, Composition
and Understanding the Series
The Codex 67 series represents a

new approach to conceptual
artwork:
►
►
►

artwork:
►
► Uses machine-generated prints
►

artwork:
►
► Multiple views of static arrangements

artwork:
►
Viewpoint shifts between prints

artwork:
►
Viewpoint shifts between prints
The compositions contain a puzzle
or riddle to be solved.
The viewer must assume, and can be

assured of the following:
►
►

► The arrangement of objects remains static
►

► There is a path of meaning to be found

and followed
►

► There is a path of meaning to be found

and followed
► The meaning will require some time and
effort to puzzle out.
“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”
In the following slides, a close look

at the prints that make up this
composition will be provided.
This is the first of the set of five prints. Subsequent slides will provide more information, but just take a
moment to look at it carefully, making connections between this print and the others.
This is the second of the set of five prints. Subsequent slides will provide more information, but just
take a moment to look at it carefully, making connections between this print and the others.
This is the third of the set of five prints. Subsequent slides will provide more information, but just take a
This is the fourth of the set of five prints. Subsequent slides will provide more information, but just take
a moment to look at it carefully, making connections between this print and the others.
This is the fifth of the set of five prints. Subsequent slides will provide more information, but just take a
You’ve had a close look at the prints,

now let’s walk through the meaning.
Generally speaking, the title of the

composition will be the least
ambiguous part of it.
That’s the place to start.

The title of this composition

suggests that the setting is the year
2018.
Keep that in mind for a moment.

Each composition contains a print

that provides an overview of the
entire arrangement of objects.
In this composition, that view is the

second print over.
Let’s look at this print in closeup

again.
Notice first that it appears to be a giant placard spanning a four-lane single-direction highway.
We see an uneven array of colored blocks that are labeled with a single letter each.
We notice an American flag that has a bit of a discrepancy from what we might normally expect.
And we notice a diagram of some sort that looks vaguely familiar somehow.
A closer inspection reveals that the diagram contains many familiar words which will easily be
recognized as those used in the preamble to the US Constitution. The fourth print shows this more
clearly.
One soon recognizes that it is a grammatical diagram of this preamble, which consists of a single, albeit
complicated, sentence.
Turning our attention now to the US flag, and its slight discrepancy.
Careful inspection reveals that it has not 50 stars, in the usual 6-5-6-5-6-5-6-5-6 pattern, but 51,
arranged in a 9-8-9-8-9-8 pattern. This suggests the addition of a 51st state by 2018.
The blocks are the next subject for examination; they are left unanswered until we take a close look at
the fifth print, where the view is closer and the blocks are more easily visible.
Now let’s have a close look at the

fourth print.
This is the fourth of the set of five prints. Clearly these are words which are used in the preamble to the
US Constitution.
What you’re seeing here is the method used in diagramming sentences according to their grammatical
structure.
We recall from the title of the composition that the composition has something to do with US history,
and it’s clear that both the flag and the sentence on which this diagram is based falls within this area.
This fact suggests that everything on the placard falls within the area of US history, and this provides us
a clue with which to interpret the array of blocks.
We move, then, to the array of block,

which is probably the most difficult
interpretative task the viewer faces.
Although we cannot see the very top left corner of the array, we can see enough of it to interpret it.
Looking carefully, we notice a few things that will be important.
We notice that the array is uneven, suggesting that perhaps it is unfinished.
We notice that most of the blocks are either red or blue, although some near the top are yellow, some
are purple, and the corner of the third block on the top row, which we can just see, is green.
This coloration suggests a context for the blocks.
If it were felt to be necessary, the second print (the key view) could be used to see that the first two
blocks in the first row are transparent, and are labeled with the letter “W.”
Looking carefully at the lettering on the blocks, we notice that although most of the blocks have only a
single letter, three of the blocks have more than that.
The fifth block over in the second row is labeled with the letters “vB” and the sixth and seventh block
over in the fourth row each are labeled “McK.”
These blocks which contain something other than single letters is the key to recognizing what this array
represents.
Once is it recognized what these letters represent, then the rest of the array can be interpreted. Part of
the value of the composition is contained in the fact that the array is not immediately obvious, but
instead provides a challenge to the viewer.
Eventually, the viewer will come to realize that the “vB” and “McK” can be interpreted as standing for “van
Buren” and “McKinley,” names of two former presidents of the United States.
Once this connection is made, the rest of the array can be interpreted the same way. The color of the
blocks then is easily seen to represent political parties.
The last row of blocks, containing “O”, “O”, and “M” are therefore interpreted as “Obama,” “Obama,” and
the mysterious “M,” who will be elected in the election of 2016, recalling of course that the setting for the
composition is the year 2018.
A viewer who studies the array for some time might object that there is no “F” block between the pairs of
“N”s at the end of the sixth row (“Nixon”) and the “C” at the beginning of the seventh row (“Carter”).
This objection is answered as the viewer comes to realize that only elected presidents are represented.
This is easily explained as the array is examined more closely and the viewer realizes that only
presidents who were actually elected, as opposed to being appointed in the absence of the elected
president, are depicted.
Additional interpretation of the

composition is left to the viewer.
ewing, Interpreting, and Understanding t
Composition Series
A Presentation by the Artist

Viewing and Interpreting The Codex 67 Series

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ewing, Interpreting, and Understanding t

A Presentation by the Artist

The Codex 67 series represents a

The Codex 67 series represents a

The Codex 67 series represents a

The Codex 67 series represents a

The Codex 67 series represents a

The viewer must assume, and can be

The viewer must assume, and can be

The viewer must assume, and can be

► There is a path of meaning to be found

The viewer must assume, and can be

► There is a path of meaning to be found

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

In the following slides, a close look

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

You’ve had a close look at the prints,

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

Generally speaking, the title of the

That’s the place to start.

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

The title of this composition

Keep that in mind for a moment.

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

Each composition contains a print

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

In this composition, that view is the

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

Let’s look at this print in closeup

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

Now let’s have a close look at the

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

We move, then, to the array of block,

“In 2018, the Northbound Lanes Transitioned to US History”

Additional interpretation of the

A Presentation by the Artist

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