Sculpture by Riley RobinsonSubtlety and simplicity make art a welcome benediction. Cherubic Riley Robinson consistently reminds us that sculpture is his metier- second only of course to his alacrity for keeping Artpace on the forefront of the contemporary art scene in America. “A Short History of Television” offers habitues of Sala Diaz the thrill of a lunar landing or at least the re-enactment of an interstellar disembarkation.

Perhaps the virescent gem of this show dwells inside the carefully preserved torsion of a coveted pair of bib overalls. The patina on this article of clothing is a perfectly captured color of distress and creates a ghostly uninhabitable space. Robinson’s decision to place the work upright makes it seem like these jeans had been burnt to a crisp and blown against the gallery wall by some white hot, solar flare. The straightforward lemma of television pulls Mr. Green Jeans into the same lost channels of the 1960s that followed the lunar landing while alluding to the conspiracy theory of Hollywood mise en scene surrounding that “small step.” A signed, framed publicity photo of Mr. Green Jeans adds a tender touch to a remarkably delightful show.

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