FABRICATOR JACK BROGAN RETIRES
by Gordy Grundy Editor's Note: Our Art World Exclusive Scoop First "I don't play golf," he says. Fabricator Jack Brogan will never truly retire, though he claims he is. His engineering mind will never rest easy. If Brogan held a golf club, I have no doubt that he would begin to redesign it. "I am slowing down," he admits. A new smaller workshop precludes his usual volume of projects. "I want to travel more." Our current pandemic will surely change his travel plans. He does have a year's worth of job commitments and he admits, "I'll be picking and choosing projects I like." In truth, his acolytes will never let him be, until he throws his cell phone into the Pacific. Jack is the go-to-guy for many. Art Report Today has long admired the fabricator, as a technician and as an artisan. As a magician, we will never really know what Brogan did behind the curtain. As a muse, he has influenced many artists, art works and art movements. Brogan was the arbiter of what was physically possible. As our gold watch upon retirement, we proudly present a series of new articles, commentary and podcasts about this lone individual who became an institution. Many issues of succession, materials and contribution are discussed. We reveal the personality of the man and a few of his epic stories, like the one about a misogynistic German gallerist and a Dutch canal. Our writers, Andrew Berardini, Hunter Drohojowska-Philip, Michelle Isenberg, Christopher Knight, Andy Moses and Lawrence Weschler, are the finest in the world. Artist James Hayward presents a hilarious story when Brogan truly saved the day for a devastated Lynda Benglis. Artist Jan Taylor writes a piece that is good enough to eat. With great insight, artist John Eden shares his experiences working with Brogan on a Henry Moore sculpture and a tribute to Larry Bell. Artist Christopher Pate illustrates Jack's determination for perfection. We present an exclusive podcast with artist Larry Bell, as he sits down with Michael Delgado. I have a revelatory conversation with Eric Johnson, a sculptor who knows many of Brogan's most intimate secrets. As an introduction to Jack Brogan, I recommend my 2017 article, Fabricator to the Stars: Jack Brogan to the Finish, which offers his history, evolution and self-determination. A gallery of images presents a sampling of his works with Chris Burden, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, Andy Moses and more. Let's pop a cork to Jack Brogan on his retirement! It ain't never gonna happen! _____________________
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