Christine Tarantino Collection: STEVE RANDOM, USA

I met Steve RANDOM online in March 2009. Initially we were drawn together by our interest in mailart, dada, and fluxus, but quickly grew closer once we realized I live a short distance from Steve's hometown. Besides, who could possibly resist his artistic wit and brilliance?

All of our correspondence was by email and he told me about his early years in Maine with Carlo Pittore; his early recollections of Ray Johnson and their friendship; his exhibit at the Springfield Art Museum; his close relationship with Jean Brown, John Held Jr., and how Jean Brown's collection of his work ended up in the Jean Brown papers 1916-1995 Collection at the Getty[An extensive study collection of avant-garde materials amassed by librarian and art collector, Jean Brown. Her collection documents the Dada and Surrealist art movements and their offshoots, especially Fluxus, mail art, and concrete poetry. Materials include letters, printed matter and ephemera, clippings, nearly 500 art objects, sound recordings, motion pictures, and video recordings]; his good friend Ben Banville / ZONA who also lives nearby; and participating in the FluxConcert/FLUXMASS in 2003 at Amherst College.

Steve even sent me a photo of the Alison Knowles Bean Can he aquired in a flea market near Northampton. He shared communications with Ray J / Ray Johnson and told me that sometimes Ray called him 'Handsome Steve' or 'Steve Condom'.

Steve continues to send his art to me by email and postal mail, in what he sometimes refers to as 'Random Bits'. These include photos of his activities and works which I share on my FLUX-USA art blog. STEVE RANDOM understands art fully and the creative process behind it. I affecionately nicknamed him cugino/cousin.

The images below from my STEVE RANDOM Collection are fittingly presented to you in no particular order.
Contact STEVE RANDOM: srandom54@gmail.com