Search

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

About arrow_back

Admission for everyone is always free! Check here for current hours and more.

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

Collections arrow_back

The Johnson Museum holds more than 40,000 works in its collection from around the world.

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

Exhibitions arrow_back

Check out what’s on view this season at the Museum and look back through our history.

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

Events arrow_back

Free events for everyone, plus special programs for students, families, and more!

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

Learn arrow_back

The Johnson Museum actively contributes to the intellectual life of our campus and community.

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

Support arrow_back

Help the Johnson Museum continue its legacy by making a gift today.

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

Ed Ruscha

(American, born 1937)

News, from the porfolio News, Mews, Pews, Brews, Stews & Dues

View All Works

Object Details

Artist

Ed Ruscha

Date

1970

Medium

Organic dye serigraph Edition 54/125

Dimensions

Sheet: 22 7/8 × 31 3/4 inches (58.1 × 80.6 cm)
Frame: 26 1/4 × 34 1/4 × 1 inches (66.7 × 87 × 2.5 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Richard Roth

Object
Number

78.065.002 a

In 1969, Ruscha published Stains, a portfolio of seventy-five sheets literally stained with common h(…)

In 1969, Ruscha published Stains, a portfolio of seventy-five sheets literally stained with common household substances, housed in a black case with the title in silver lettering and Gothic script. One year later, he employed a similar conceit in terms of both typeface and materials in the portfolio News, Mews, Pews, Brews, Stews & Dues.Working with Alecto Studios in London, Ruscha selected rhyming words that “sounded British to me,” and printed a series of “organic” screenprints with inks made from commercially available foodstuffs, local flowers and fruits, and even axle grease. Reading like a grocery list, a roster of ingredients that make up each “dye” include brand names of the companies that produced them, underscoring the capitalist structure that governs consumerism of all substances, including seemingly natural ones. The muted hues (rhyme fully intended) at first appear to have faded from light exposure, yet the varying levels of saturation produced by the unpredictable inks are actually a palpable reminder of the artist’s conceptual experimentation, which can at times fly in the face of museum conservation concerns. (“All for One and One for All: Portfolios from the Permanent Collection,” co-curated by Andrea Inselmann and Sonja Gandert and presented at the Johnson Museum June 24-August 20, 2017)

Create an account

Please take a moment to fill your information to create your account.

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Save Artwork

Save the artwork in any of your exhibitions or create a new one.

You have not made any exhibitions.

Create New Exhibition

Create New Exhibition