LLYN FOULKES: Citizen’s Arrest, 1974, Art Center College of Design Bob & Bob unexpectedly burst into a painting class being taught by painter Llyn Foulkes. They threw Llyn against the wall and made a Citizen’s Arrest of the artist for “promoting the work of degenerate artists to minors.” Outside of the classroom Llyn broke free from custody and Bob & Bob eventually dropped charges.
LLYN FOULKES: Citizen’s Arrest, 1974
CLUB ‘d ARTE, 1974, Art Center College of Design The Dark Bob teaches The Light Bob how to realistically paint a still-life by explaining, in detail, the fundamentals of Classical painting. The Light Bob fools The Dark Bob into believing he has learned the techniques, but instead he begins taping the still-life objects directly to his canvas and declaring that “painting will never die.”
LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE, 1975, Elks Club, Los Angeles, CA Bob & Bob walked on-stage, uninvited, during a concert by the Mystic Nights of the Oingo Boingo (later to be known as Oingo Boingo). They threw dollar bills in the audience and commandeered a microphone. Bob & Bob began chanting their song “Live Your Own Life” which just repeats that phrase over and over. They did so until one of the band members literally knocked Bob & Bob offstage.
ON THE SCENE, 1975, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Bob & Bob mistakenly interviewed museum visitors believing they were famous artists. The questions were specifically designed for many of the popular artists of that time including Claus Oldenburg, Lucas Samaras, William Wegman, and others. Interviewee’s, not knowing they were being pranked, answered the questions with sincerity. The results were later compiled in a self published, limited edition book called “Bob & Bob: On The Scene”.
ON PATROL, 1975 through 1978, on the streets of Beverly Hills, CA Bob & Bob took it upon themselves to observe and report on the extravagant culture of Beverly Hills in their extended performance ON PATROL, which continued sporadically from 1976 through 1978. Their findings were documented in drawings, audio recordings and photo documentation.
BREAKFAST AT THE DAISY, 1975 through 1978, on the streets of Beverly Hills, CA Each patrol day began with BREAKFAST AT THE DAISY where Bob & Bob brown-bagged their breakfast on the doorstep of the exclusive Daisy Club of Beverly Hills.
WE MUST BE IN THE WRONG PLACE, 1975 through 1978, various locations in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, ILL, New York, NY and Washington, D.C. Anytime Bob & Bob saw a sign that said, DO NOT ENTER, PRIVATE, RESTRICTED AREA or EMPLOYEES ONLY, the team would walk thru the door until they were stopped. When authorities questioned their presence, the Bobs responded, “We must be in the wrong place.”
RODEO BEACH, 1975 through 1978, on the streets of Beverly Hills, CA Bob & Bob outfitted the bed of a pick-up truck with beach blankets, lounge chairs, magazines and plants. The artists would park the truck on Rodeo Drive and sunbathe for an hour or two while watching a small TV that was plugged into the cigarette lighter.
TRASH TO TREASURE, 1975 through 1978, on the streets of Beverly Hills, CA While on Patrol in Beverly Hills, Bob & Bob always made it a habit to rifle through trash bins. They discovered that the trash was often quite nice and sometimes very valuable.
OH GREAT, NOW WHAT?, 1975 through 1978 Bob & Bob dined at some of Beverly Hills’ most exclusive restaurants with no money in their wallets. When presented with the bill, the Bobs reached for their empty wallets proclaiming “Oh great, now what?”. In each instance, Bob & Bob were simply asked to leave to avoid creating a scene. Wearing suits helped.
DEALS, 1975 through 1978, Beverly Hills, CA After 9pm in the evening, Bob & Bob would slip notes under the doors of hundreds of Beverly Hills’ businesses. The notes ranged from nonsense to political bombshells. Because the DEALS (as the artists called them) were signed “Love, Bob & Bob”, the police eventually tracked down the art team and asked them to stop because it was frightening some of the businesses – they did not stop.
CAMP GUCCI, 1975 through 1978 At the end of a long patrol day, Bob & Bob would often roll out sleeping bags in front of the Gucci store for a good night’s sleep.
THE FAB TWO, 1977, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art Six people in surgical gowns greeted the audience with a small cup of candy and a cigarette for each. They then seated the attendees and tied them to their chairs. A film about Bob & Bob (“A Brief History of Bob & Bob”) was shown, after-which the artists (with their band) are revealed behind a false paper wall as they monologued and performed the 14 songs from their album “Simple & Effective”.
THE FAB TWO, 1977, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art
THE FAB TWO, 1977, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art
THE FAB TWO, 1977, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art
THE FAB TWO, 1977, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art “A Brief History of Bob & Bob”, 8mm short film and slide show
BOB & BOB AT THE KITCHEN, 1979, The Kitchen, New York, NY In 1979 New York City was slowly coming to terms with the vitality and importance of West Coast art. The Village Voice declared that Bob & Bob were “the best thing to come out of California since the Beach Boys.” Comedian Andy Kauffman was in attendance and became an instant fan of the art duo.
BOB & BOB AT THE KITCHEN, 1979, The Kitchen, New York, NY
BRACE YOURSELF FOR ACTION, 1978, Ruth S. Schaffner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
HERE’S THE NEWS, 1980 through 1982 Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA Randolph Gallery, Chicago, ILL On The Boards, Seattle, WA Tryon Arts Center, Tryon, NC Washington Project for the Arts, Washington, D.C. Bob & Bob would do a large painting for the attending audience that was inspired by a live broadcast of the local news. During commercials breaks the Bobs would pause from art making and act-out the advertisements.
HERE’S THE NEWS, 1980 through 1982
HERE’S THE NEWS, 1980 through 1982
HERE’S THE NEWS, 1980 through 1982
HERE’S THE NEWS, 1980 through 1982
ROTTERBOBS, 1983, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Holland Bob & Bob, along with Chris Burden, Johanna Went and James Lee Byers, represented the United States in the international performance art festival “Lantaren Venster” in Rotterdam and Amsterdam in Holland. Bob & Bob’s performance consisted of monologues, songs and live on-stage painting.
ROTTERBOBS, 1983, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Holland One of two large paintings done live in front of an audience.
WE’VE BEEN STATUES, 1983-84. Performed throughout New York City, Bob & Bob would strike a dramatic pose and hold it for hours, thus becoming “statues”.
ON TARGET, 1980, Target Video, San Francisco, CA SCENE ONE: The Dark Bob tries to put a Mexican donut into The Light Bob’s nose. SCENE TWO: In an uncommon move, The Light Bob lashes out and attacks The Dark Bob in self defense. SCENE THREE: The Dark Bob is clearly shaken and miffed by The Light Bob’s sudden bravado while The Light Bob seems pleased with himself. SCENE FOUR: The Dark Bob gets up and leaves. It seems he can dish it out, but he can’t take it.
