Dream of Life
Patti Smith Will Let You Sit in Her Chair
There are a lot of reasons to do an art show with rock legend Patti Smith. But photographer and filmmaker Steven Sebring offered the simplest justification of all: "She's got some cool stuff." A lot of said stuff—and Sebring's photos of it—were on view at last night's opening of Objects of Life, an exhibition at Chelsea's Robert Miller Gallery.
On display were Smith's Polaroid camera, her Corona typewriter, and her largest canvas, Strange Messenger, which depicts what looks like an archangel emerging out of gobs of paint. There was also a photo of a Gibson guitar that was given to her by one-time beau Sam Shepard. Just as noteworthy, perhaps, was the presence of the playwright himself. He spent most of the evening shrugging off strangers.
For Smith, the show represents a rare act of disclosure. "I have many things. Some things I wouldn't share with anyone, and some things I thought it would be nice for people to see," she explained. The latter group includes "relics" that once belonged to friends. "Robert Mapplethorpe's slippers have a sense of holiness," said Smith, before adding, "I don't feel that my chair is holy, but I do love it." Acolytes will be pleased to know that the installation of the singer's furniture isn't necessarily off-limits. "They aren't invited to sit in it," Smith warned. "But if you really feel faint and you have to sit in my chair, it's all right."
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