MEL CHIN (American b. 1951) A DRAWING AND A BLUEPRINT, "Merry-Go-Round - Earthwork # No. 2," CIRCA 1978, watercolor hand applied over a printed black line drawing on wove paper, together with an artist's blueprint for the project on paper; drawing 20 3/4'' x 25 1/4'', blueprint 17'' x 22''. Note: Mel Chin was born in Houston to Chinese parents in 1951, the first of his family born in the United States, and was reared in a predominantly African-American and Latino neighborhood. He worked in his family's grocery store and began producing art at an early age. Though Chin is classically trained, his art is both analytical and poetic and evades easy classification. Many of his works are large-scale conceptual pieces that are placed in public spaces.Both the drawing and the blueprint were created circa 1978, having been purchased from Richard Simmons, prior curator of art at the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, during which time he worked with Mel Chin on a project in Houston and was given these works by the artist. These works can be seen as companions to his 1976 piece, "See/Saw: The Earthworks for Hermann Park," in Houston, Texas, where the artist manipulated two sections of the park's surface to create a kinetic, minimalist earthwork.

For the drawing, the color is the only part that is hand applied. The black lines are printed. The full sheet is on wove paper and has some creases and some toning primarily in the margins near the edges. The blueprint has been cut slightly unevenly and there are some very small associated tears at the sheet edges. There is also a 3/4'' horizontal band of discoloration along the top edge. Neither work is hand signed.  Simpson Galleries strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Simpson Galleries regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Simpson Galleries. All lots offered are sold "AS IS.”