KUNSTHALLE BERN (SAW) JIM DINE SIGNED POSTER

This original signed lithograph by Jim Dine is a poster for an exhibition of his work at Kunsthalle Bern. The gallery gained international recognition when Christo and Jeanne Claude wrapped the building to celebrate its 50th anniversary. 

With a cursory glance it appears that this poster is just a picture of a lovely blue sky with some white fluffy clouds.  A closer look reveals that there is more: the word "saw" is drawn in by hand in the sky, along with the white outline of a hand saw. This could be interpreted with a "glass half-full" outlook -- here is a saw cutting through the -clouds so more blue sky will shine through -- or with a "glass half-empty" outlook -- here is a saw disrupting the blue sky so more clouds can move in.  Or, it could be the artist revealing his thoughts on the creative processes guiding him.  

Tools have figured prominently in many of Dine's prints. They are among the popular symbols which are personal to him and which he has incorporated into his art, as his family owned a hardware store when he was growing up.  

Jim Dine (b. 1935) began his career in the early 1960s and has been a creative force in the art world since then. He is often grouped with the pop artists of that era, but early on he developed his own style of incorporating popular symbols (hearts, bathrobes, ties and of course tools) that reflected his introspective viewpoint and his personal and emotional experiences in prints, paintings, sculptures, photographs, and poetry.

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