Guggenheim

Finding 64: Exploring Light: Letter from Roger Tilton to Hilla Rebay

May 31, 2011

In 1950, Roger Tilton wrote a letter to Hilla Rebay explaining his exploration of light "as a practical medium for aesthetic expression." Working at the University of Iowa, Tilton explains, he had been exploring light murals as architectural decoration, the three-dimensional qualities of light as sculpture, and experimenting with light and sound on film. The two photographs glued to the bottom of the first page of his letter and the top left image on the second show Tilton's light murals installed in the Art Department Building at the University of Iowa, while the top right image on the second page is an example of Tilton's light sculpture. He concludes his letter by expressing a wish to show his work to Rebay or for references to others who might have an interest in it. Rebay, who often corresponded with artists and always shared her honest opinions, replied to Tilton saying that the museum only displays painting and is not pursuing light research "other than what we have been developing in the last eight years, and which seems to me is going far beyond what has been developed anywhere else in avoiding accidental effects of decorations. We are only interested, of course, in Art." The research which Rebay refers to includes the work of Charles Dockum (highlighted in Finding 40) and the film center, funded by the Guggenheim Foundation. In addition to providing the contact information for Dwinell Grant, an artist and experimental filmmaker and another fellowship recipient, Rebay recommends the books of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, a forerunner of explorations with light, and suggests Tilton contact the School of Design in Chicago. She also offers to further explain and discuss non-objectivity with Tilton later that year.

-Shirin Khaki, Archives Assistant