paintedout:

Jack Whitten, Black Table Setting (Homage to Duke Ellington), 1974

“Oct ‘72
I’ve done so much. I’ve tried everything: I’ve tried the saw blade, afro comb. I’ve made all sort of formal arrangements about the importance of space, volumetric surface, about making painting real. About physical labor used to prevent me from thinking. Space is important: that much is true. I still come back to surface. Please I am trying hard not to be confused. This shit is complicated! To be as clear as possible without getting confused. I JUST WANT A SLAB OF PAINT.“