Skip to content

Electi

1960–61

Images

A painting dominated by three brown and three black vertical stripes. Three orbs appear in the bottom third of the painting. Each is divided into black and white triangles; the central one is contained in a blue square, the ones to the left and right in red squares. Below this is the painting's title, Electi, in black letters.

Electi

1960–61

Oil on canvas

71 1/2 × 44 13/16 in. (181.6 × 113.8 cm)

Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Gift of the artist (1997.5)

 

Photo: Courtesy of the Portland Museum, Maine; Artwork: © Star of Hope Foundation, Vinalhaven, Maine

Detail from Robert Indiana's journal entry for January 2, 1961, with a sketch of Electi before a quarter of the canvas was destroyed,  

Detail from Robert Indiana's journal entry for January 2, 1961, with a sketch of Electi before a quarter of the canvas was destroyed

 

Courtesy Star of Hope Foundation, Vinalhaven, Maine

Image from the CBS coverage of the 1960 presidential elections. The computer tape reels which inspired Electi's circular forms are visible in the background

Image from the CBS coverage of the 1960 presidential elections. The computer tape reels which inspired Electi's circular forms are visible in the background

Description

The original painting, which is a quarter more than this, was to celebrate Kennedy’s election as president. These wheels are those things that spin around on the computers on television in those days. And of course when this painting was brought back to my studio one of my constructions [Zig] fell into it and destroyed one quarter of it so now it’s Electi instead of Election.

— Robert Indiana

 

Excerpt from Susan Elizabeth Ryan, Interview with Robert Indiana, November 13, 1991, Robert Indiana: Figures of Speech Archive, 1987–2005.