Untitled (Kabal American Zephyr) 1983

Robert Rauschenberg made this sculpture, it's a kind of assemblage really, using found objects. It's got this old chair, like something you’d find in a dusty attic, with the peeling paint. Above, there’s a sign for Royal Crown Cola, kind of rusty, stuck on top, like a weird crown. I can imagine Rauschenberg in his studio, surrounded by all this stuff he's collected. He's probably thinking about how these objects can be more than just junk. How they can talk to each other, tell stories, and be funny and sad all at the same time. I'm thinking about how Rauschenberg throws everything together, trusting his gut. It reminds me that art doesn't always have to be precious. It can be messy, and a little bit broken, and still be beautiful. It shows how one artist learns from another, and how, by making art, we keep the conversation going.