http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibit/view_review.rss/208 Comments en-us Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:48:48 -0800 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibit/view_review.rss/208#cid100 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibit/view_review.rss/208#cid100 Bob's piece Sun Painting was the first rebuild I ever worked on at the Exploratorium, as an intern with Eric Dimond. Bob was a fascinating person to be around, a person so observant it was as if he was struck by visions from time to time. When the white light from the sun first hit the prisms of the newly rebuilt Sun Painting: bathing a giant screen in dazzling rainbow, I told Bob I thought that was just about the most awesome thing I'd ever seen. Bob says back: "Yeah and that's just from a couple of square feet of sunlight...imagine all the thousands of square miles out there!" -Ulrika Andersson Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:39:52 -0800 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibit/view_review.rss/208#cid101 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibit/view_review.rss/208#cid101 I didn't know Bob very well, except through his work. But I had a beer with him once, long ago before I knew anything about him, and in a single hour learned a lot through his eyes. "Notice how the light from that neon sign is focused by each of the billion bubbles in the head on that Anchor Steam", he would say. I thought he was looking for some new effect to turn into an exhibit, but really, he was just, always, looking for the pleasure of looking. A few years ago, Norman Tuck told me how he had seen Bob off on an ocean voyage from the pier in San Francisco, then drove over to the bridge and called his cell to say a last farewell as the ship passed out through Golden Gate. I am still struck by the power of that action - a friend passes over a bridge as a friend passes under. As the ocean's waves draw them apart, light waves connect them, and two hands wave wishes of bon voyage across the void. Artists know how to live, do they not?