I-Ching Drawing...

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I-Ching Drawing, Peter Schmidt, line drawing, 1979

(Collection of Alain D'Hooghe)

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"...a drawing Peter made in my copy of the I-Ching (we bought this book together when Peter stayed at my place in 1979 at the time of his first exhibition at Paul Ide’s)..."

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"Mountains in the Mist"...

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"Mountains in the Mist", Peter Schmidt, watercolor painting, 1979

(Collection of Alain D'Hooghe)

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Painted during Peter's last visit to the Isle of Skye in 1979. This lovely painting has been in Alain's family for many years, he recently had the opportunity to photograph it and share it with www.PeterSchmidtWeb.com

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Link to Peter Schmidt: In an indeterminate place...

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In an indeterminate place, screen capture, March 1, 2010 blog post

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Guy Bennett is having a wonderful blog in which he ponders and elucidates his thoughts about art in various mediums. His point of view is unique, and his postulation is precice. A recent post on Peter's work is but one of many. Oskar Schlemmer, Tom Phillips, and the Brothers Quay among others. I suggest visiting this blog to read his thoughts on Peter and look into another way of looking.

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Thanks to Guy for considering Peter Schmidt: http://inanindeterminateplace.com/

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Link to Peter Schmidt: Anker - Steinbaukasten Home Page...

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Richter's Anchor® Stone Building Sets, the home page for March, 2010
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Mr. Hardy has impeccable taste indeed. After recently discovering that as a child, Peter played with Richters Anker - Steinbaukasten, or Richter's Anchor® Stone Building Sets, I made contact with the "Pope" of Anchor Builders, Mr. George Hardy. I shared with him some images of Peter's work, that I felt were directly influenced by his past with the stones. He found them to be authentic depictions of Anchor Buildings, and has chosen to feature some of Peter's "Buildings" at his website for the month of March. Anchor Builders hail from all over the world, and tend to be passionate about this work. They are very supportive each others efforts as well as of George and his mission to spread knowledge of this 120 year old classic. I have recently received my first three sets, Nos. 6, 6A, and 8A. The stones are precisely molded, and the material is tactile. I feel these sets would make a great tool for young people, as hand eye coordination can be developed, as well as architectural imagination. Thus far I have executed six of the historic constructions illustrated in the books that came with my stones. My goal is to build Peter's "Tower", for which I will require considerably more stones.
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My thanks to Mr. George Hardy for sharing with his friends the work of Peter Schmidt, and in kind opening our eyes to the world of Anchor. A visit to Mr. Hardy's website is highly recommended: www.ankerstein.org
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Taking Tiger Mountain Collection...

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"Taking Tiger Mountain(By Strategy)", Peter Schmidt, lithographs, 1974
Pictured here are 37 of 1500 unique prints. Four from the Eno LP, and 33 from our collection.
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http://www.peterschmidtweb.com/TakingTigerMountain.html
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Graham Greene meets Peter Schmidt...

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"Autobiographical Monoprints", exhibition book pages, Peter Schmidt, 1970
From the Lisson Gallery(Collection of John Emr)
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Recently added to our catalogue were ten of the "Monoprint" collages. As such, I revisited the exhibition book that accompanied the exhibit. Along with the "Analytical Introduction, Jasia Reichardt did an analysis of two of the Monoprints. As shown above, the item numbers, is a drawing Peter did, one of eight, which was apparently done for a Grahan Greene short story. For a few days now, I've been in contact with rare book sellers, Greene affectionados, his official biographer Norman Sherry, and the original writer of this analysis, Jasia. Nothing firm to report, though I'm hopeful we can locate where indeed these drawings appeared. They would represent the earliest examples of Peter's work.
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If you are or become aware of where these ink drawings were published, please contact me: info@PeterSchmidtWeb.com or PeterSchmidtWeb@aol.com
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Anker Steinbaukasten...

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"Tower", Peter Schmidt, watercolor painting, 1976
(Collection of the Schmidt Family)
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Peter seems to have looked back on a stressful, war torn childhood as inspiration for some of his work. In his autobiographical "Monoprint" series, he used not only his old art works as raw materials, but pages from childhood books, and photos from early in his life. As with the "Mandala Castles", Peter used as a point of reference for "Tower", a childhood toy known in his native Germany as Richters Anker Steinbaukasten, and Richter's Anchor Stone Building Sets to the English speaking world. These sets were first manufactured in 1880 in Germany, and were sold all over Europe and the United States. Production was halted after the godless Soviet Union annexed East Germany, fearing too many people used the blocks to build model churches and cathedrals. A few years after reunification, they were to be produced once again using the original molds. These blocks were enjoyed by Albert Einstein as a child.
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"Anker Stones consist of quartz sand, linseed oil, colour pigments and chalk - for over 125 years the formula has remained the same. The use of 100% natural ingredients meets the highest ecological standards." - The Formula, from the Anker website.
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The Anker homepage(multi lingual): www.ankerstein.de
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"Anchor stones have been used for what I call "easy art". Gluing stones on a board in an interesting 3-D pattern. The old stones make more attractive "easy art". Of course, this type of art is quite different from the art of Peter Schmidt. His "Anchor" buildings are quite true to the Anchor stones themselves and he has worked the buildings into the background very well." - George Hardy
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Mr. George Hardy, worldwide Anker expert: www.ankerstein.org
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Peter Schmidt Web, acclimating...

. Peter Schmidt
. Brian Eno
. Simon Hilton
With the help Maria Keirnan, many of the images you've seen posted here at the Peter Schmidt Web Blog over the past months are being added to the main website. The Simon Hilton Collection is being added to the Early Works gallery, a few more Taking Tiger Mountain prints to that gallery, a new sub section, Sketchbooks, is being added to the top of the Miscellaneous section, the existing Letters section is being moved to the top here as well. We have completely renovated the External Links. We are adding French, Italian, German, Spanish and Icelandic translations of Peter's Biography. We have added several photographs of Peter from his early childhood through his teens and beyond to the Images of Him section. The website updates are a big undertaking, so please be patient.
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A million thanks and salutations to Maria for the time, effort and care she takes in doing this work.
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www.PeterSchmidtWeb.com
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"Cubism and After: Departures"...

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Stills from the BBC film "Cubism and After: Departures", directed by Michael Gill, 1961

Original air date 29, October, 1962 (Images provided by Rory Walsh)

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This elusive film was found due to the unrelenting diligence and determination of

our good friend Rory. Perhaps next, he can convince the BBC to show this film again...

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Shown here: the title frames, several stills of Peter, Peter drawing Ruth with their black

cat looking for trouble, and two of Peter playing with his son Simon.

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"Ovoid"...

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"Ovoid", Peter Schmidt, watercolour, 21" x 16", 1970

(Collection of Simon Hilton)

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The Mandala Castles...

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"Mandala Castles(City, Country, Mountain, Sea)", Peter Schmidt, silk screen with watercolors, 1979 (Collection of Alain D'Hooghe)

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These four paintings were among the last works made by Peter and were first exhibited at the Paul Ide Gallery in Brussels in 1980. The show called "More Than Nothing", featured collaborations between Peter and Brian Eno. Alain D'Hooghe, a very dear friend of the artist and the curator for this exhibit, has told me Peter's intention was to paint two more Mandala Castles, "Tundra" and "Desert". Peter's original castle line drawing, I believe, was loosely based on a childhood toy* which traveled with him from Germany to England, was then made into a silk screen, and formed the bones of each of these paintings.

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* Richter's Anchor Stone Building Sets or Richters Anker-Steinbaukästen, more on these in a future post...

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Cheers...

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Today marks the beginning the third year in existence for Peter Schmidt Web. A million thanks to the family, friends, supporters and contributors. Your support has been inspiring. To Peter's family, I am grateful for having been welcomed into your lives, homes and hearts, without your trust, encouragement and support this endeavor would not be truly legitimate. To the many people who knew Peter, colleagues, students and friends, I am grateful for your shared experiences and knowledge. To the contributors, your generosity has made this collection a definitive one. Hats off to Rory for his determination. Finally to Alain, thank you for providing the spark which lit the fire, your love and respect for Peter touched me very deeply.
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I have never in my life approached a project with such respect and diligence. From my first attempts at reaching out, I knew that this man was held in high regard by many. He was much more than just an artist to be studied and catalogued. I was always keenly aware that Peter was someone's father, brother, husband, teacher, collaborator, and friend. He was a human being who lived and dreamed. My efforts to create and establish the Peter Schmidt Web archive has taught me many things about myself, and has enriched my life's journey in so many ways. It has transformed my prison into a garden.
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"And Now for Something Completely Different"...

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Michael Palin with Peter Schmidt's "Cycloid V", from the film "And Now For Something Completely Different", 1970
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On many of the occasions I've posted to the blog, I've been temped to use this title for the entry I've used here and now, as the range of Peter's work is quite wide. I have finally found the definitive post for which it is most suitable.
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Earlier today I put on the film "And Now For Something Completely Different". This scene featured Eric Idle as a marriage counselor, a geeky Michael Palin and his voluptuous blonde wife(played by a woman, not John Cleese), as the patients. Palin, bewildered as Idle seduced his wife as she began undressing in his office, walks out of the office contemplating, and into the waiting room. I thought to myself, that there was some very groovy decor on the set. As I scanned the art on the walls, I imagined how reasonable it would be to see one of Peter's works. Seconds, yes seconds later I literally gasped. There was "Cycloid V" on the wall in the waiting room. Palin, after a moment of self reflection, goes back into the office to reclaim his wife, but is too late, she and Idle are already having a shag. Thoroughly crushed, he returns to the waiting room. In typical Monty Python fashion, a 16 ton weight drops on him, ending the scene.
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Link? Did somebody say link?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwurFNKTQHs
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Suspicions of Blue...

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Study for a painting, Peter Schmidt, line drawing, 1979

From Peter's sketchbooks.

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Reflection of a Mountain, study...

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Study for a painting, Peter Schmidt, line drawing, 1979
From Peter's sketchbooks.
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This may be the study for this painting:
http://peterschmidtweb.blogspot.com/2009/09/reflection-of-mountain.html
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"Womb II"...

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"Womb II", Peter Schmidt, watercolor, 28" x 21", 1970

(Collection of Simon Hilton)

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"Monoprint XI"...

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"Monoprint(Lisson)" XI

Peter Schmidt

(Edition of 120, each unique)

Overprinted collage

43" x 29", 1968

For the purposes of cataloguing and identification, I am enumerating these works.

(Collection of Tim Gordon)

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This one has been in our collection since the beginning. It belongs to Peter's good friend Tim Gordon and hangs over a fireplace in his 350 year old house on the Thames in west London. I had always referred to it as "Untitled Collage". After Simon Hilton's donation of his "Monoprint" collection, I now realize it is one of the 120.
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"Monoprint X"...

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"Monoprint X"(Edition of 120), Peter Schmidt, overprinted collage, 43" x 29", 1968
For the purposes of cataloguing and identification, I am enumerating these works.
(Collection of Simon Hilton)
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Peter Schmidt passed away 30 years ago on this day in 1980, at the age of 49. His precise vision lives on through his family, his work, his relationships and his teachings. His artistic endeavors are today appreciated by people around the world and he is forever one with the universe...
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"Monoprint IX"...

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"Monoprint IX" (Edition of 120), Peter Schmidt, overprinted collage, 43" x 29", 1968

For the purposes of cataloguing and identification, I am enumerating these works.

(Collection of Simon Hilton)

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"Taking Tiger Mountain", No. 493 0f 1500...

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"Taking Tiger Mountain"(493/1500), Peter Schmidt, screen print, 1974

(2 of 2 from the collection of Simon Hilton)

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Another kind of "Monoprint"...

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"Monoprint"(Edition of 200), Peter Schmidt, silk screen print, 39" x 29", 1968

(Collection of Simon Hilton)

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This series of 200 unique prints, labeled Monoprint, dated and signed(though not numbered), by Peter, was exhibited at Editions Electo Gallery in London in 1968. Peter used three different screens per print, all circular, oriented in random directions and using random colors, some horizontal, some vertical, on assorted color backgrounds. I myself have a gold one, the UK's Government Art Collection owns five, four white and one black, which are housed in government offices in London, Paris, and Sierra Leone, and now we add this one from Simon Hilton to our collection.

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Several of these "Monoprints" were seen in the James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", and are shown in screen captures in a blog entry from March 9, 2008: http://peterschmidtweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-her-majestys-secret-service-with.html

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Here is a link to the others in our catalogue: http://www.peterschmidtweb.com/Early2.html

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Paintings on Clothes, 1975...

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"Painting on Clothes", Peter Schmidt with students from Watford School of Art, exhibition pamphlet, 1975

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A few months back I posted a photo of Peter working on his installation at this exhibit

at Whitechapel Gallery in 1975, courtesy of the gallery.

http://peterschmidtweb.blogspot.com/2009/07/peter-schmidt-whitechapel-gallery-1975.html

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I've just recieved a copy of the exhibition pamplet, courtesy of the National Library of Australia.

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"Monoprint VIII"...

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"Monoprint VIII" (Edition of 120), Peter Schmidt, overprinted collage, 43" x 29", 1969

For the purpose of identification and cataloguing, I am enumerating.

(Collection of Simon Hilton)

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"Monoprint VII"...

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"Monoprint VII" (Edition of 120), Peter Schmidt, overprinted collage, 43" x 29", 1969

For purposes of identification and cataloging they will be enumerated.

(Collection of Simon Hilton)

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"Taking Tiger Mountain", No. 494 0f 1500...

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"Taking Tiger Mountain"(494/1500), Peter Schmidt, screen print, 1974
(1 of 2 from the collection of Simon Hilton)
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We now have 33 versions of this print in our catalogue. Each is unique...
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