?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 700 - $ 1,000
DIRK ROWNTREE (1948- )
David Wojnarowicz, West Side Pier, NYC * Brian Butterick and David Wojnarowicz, NYC * Peter Hujar and David Wojnarowicz, Pier 34, NYC. Together, three digital prints, the images measuring 292x438 mm; 11½x17¼ inches, and slightly smaller, the sheets 330x483 mm; 13x19 inches, each with Rowntree's signature and print date in ink on verso. 1977, 1978, 1983; printed 2024.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the Artist.
Artist statements as follows: Dirk Rowntree is a photographer, musician, and designer, who first met Wojnarowicz in 1976. They stayed in touch through the end of the artists' life and Rowntree documented much of the art made at the Ward Line Pier. Jean Foos, his partner, is an artist and graphic designer, and she too frequently collaborated with Wojnarowicz. She was also a designer at Artforum. In the late 1970s and 80s, the piers along the Hudson River between Canal and 14th Street were a popular gay cruising scene. In 1983 David Wojnarowicz and Mike Bidlo began inviting artists to create installations at Pier 34 as an alternative to the growing art scene in the East Village. He called it "the real MoMa;" hundreds of artists participated. By June of that year, the police had cracked down on the artists' use of the space, and the pier was demolished.
David Wojnarowicz, West Side Pier, NYC, 1977.This is a portrait of David at the abandoned Westside Pier 34 overlooking the Hudson River. Years later, during the Spring of 1983, he and Mike Bidlo invited their artist friends to create artwork there. This informal, word-of-mouth exhibition has become a legend—though demolished soon after, it was well documented by media and photographers. This photo was published in Artforum in, Summer 2018.
Brian Butterick and David Wojnarowicz, NYC, 1978.This image of David Wojnarowicz and Brian Butterick was shot at Dirk Rowntree's apartment on West 10th Street in the West Village. The apartment often served as a meeting place for a range of visitors and friends to listen to music, discuss art, photography, and life in the city. Often, Dirk took photos to document these get-togethers. This particular image was part of a shoot they did to promote a performance at the Glines Theater called "Leaning with That Grey Beast of Desire." Brian described it later as "David's poetry and my songs." David and Brian eventually joined with others to form the band "3 Teens Kill 4."
Peter Hujar and David Wojnarowicz, Pier 34, 1983.This image of Peter Hujar and David Wojnarowicz shows the two men, sharing paint for the walls of the abandoned Pier 34 (Ward Line Pier). Each is usually seen expressing a serious, if not solemn presence. Here, the two close friends are engaged in relaxed, cooperative, even fun art-making. The expression on Peter's face calmly exudes concentration and joy. David holds a book by Jean Genet (Funeral Rites); and Peter's tripod is in view, as he had been photographing David's work that day. This photo was published in Artforum in, Summer 2018.
