Viewing page 90 of 108

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Department of ART

College of Fine and Applied Arts
University of Illinois, Urbana
October 26, 1962
AIRMAIL


Mr. Robert Rauschenberg 
Leo Castelli Gallery
4 East 77th
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Rauschenberg:

This year the College Art Association of America will hold its annual meeting in Baltimore during the last weekend in January. I have been asked to serve as chairman of one of the three sessions dealing with matters relating to the studio (as separate from the history of art). I hope to arrange a suitable panel of forthright individuals who might carry on a discussion of the topic tentatively listed as "The Image and The Medium". I am writing to ask if you would be willing to appear as one of the panelists.

The panel will last approximately 1-1/2 hours time either on the final Thursday, Friday or on the final Saturday morning of January. I shall let you know when definite arrangements of date, hour, and place are made available. As you probably know the College Art Association is unable to pay expenses, but it is hoped that you, as others before you, may find it possible to contribute your presence for the half-day necessary to make the panel a success. I am sure the attending membership will be interested in what you have to say. Since you have not appeared at a C.A.A. meeting in the recent past perhaps you in turn would find some interest in utilizing this group as a sounding board for some of your ideas.

The title is not only tentative but regardless of final wording is meant only to indicate a starting point from which we might launch a discussion of individual ideas and observations. The panelists selected for invitation will, we anticipate, represent different viewpoints and can therefore be expected to explain and discuss their attitudes with some conviction and spirit. 

Please let me know your reactions at some early moment for I must submit my choice of panelists to the program chairman. Of course, I hope you can accept this invitation and I look forward to an early and affirmative reply.

Sincerely yours,
[signature["Lee Chesney"]]
Lee Chesney
Professor of Art 

LC:mjs