Red Plank

This vibrant, monolithic red plank leans casually against the gallery wall, a striking example of how artists in 1960s California explored light and color. Crafted from wood, fiberglass, and lacquer, its pure, monochromatic surface blurs the line between painting and sculpture. The artist, John McCracken, began as a painter but moved towards creating object-based works, using industrial materials and techniques akin to surfboard construction. He conceived of these planks as existing "between two worlds," with the floor representing the physical realm and the wall symbolizing the imagination. The highly polished, reflective finish, reminiscent of California car culture, gives the sculpture a lustrous, almost otherworldly quality, inviting viewers to contemplate its presence in both physical and mental space.