C-Note

Key facts

Born

1965, American^[2]

Wikipedia

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• What is C-Note known for?+

  C-Note is recognised as one of the most prolific artists to have worked while in captivity. His artwork addresses the realities of the carceral system, including mass incarceration, forced sterilisation, and racial injustice.
• What is C-Note's most famous work?+

  C-Note is best known for artworks that incorporate images and themes related to currency, particularly United States Federal Reserve notes. These pieces often include elements such as serial numbers, official seals, and phrases associated with legal tender. For example, Undiscovered Genius of 1982-83 features a drawing of an eye within a pyramid, similar to the one on the back of a U.S. treasury bill. Liberty (1982-83) includes the phrase 'FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE' and a sketch of a coin. Another work features outlines of the number one, flanking the head of the sitter, along with the phrase 'THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC + PRIVATE' placed under a 'copyright' notice. These artworks reflect C-Note's engagement with themes of value, authenticity, and the symbolic power of money.
• What should I know about C-Note's prints?+

  When considering C-Note's prints, bear in mind some facts about the fine art print market. Printmakers often limit their editions, declaring this limit in pencil at the foot of each print. This declaration includes a print number and the edition number (for example, 35/100). The title appears in the centre, and the artist's signature on the right. These conventions are widely respected; the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 requires commercial sellers to describe their items truthfully. Claims of authenticity add value; therefore, customers expect descriptions to be accurate. Limited editions command higher prices than posters because the plates are made by hand. The number of prints is restricted by the plate's degradation or by the publisher to increase value. The artist's reputation, image popularity, and the materials also affect prices. Some artists hold back a percentage as artist's proofs, marked AP. The Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada defines an original print as conceived and executed solely as a print, usually in a numbered edition, and signed. Each print is individually inked and pulled; it is a multi-original medium.
• What style or movement did C-Note belong to?+

  The provided texts do not offer definitive information regarding C-Note's artistic style or movement. The passages discuss movements, directions, and spatial relationships within what seems to be a dance or martial art form, possibly Pencak Silat. There are references to specific steps and positions, such as 'Lift RL to step IN' and 'Pivot to face OUT'. These actions are further described with directional notations like '>W' (West), '>E' (East), '>C' (centre), and '>P' (periphery). The texts also mention hand movements and body orientations in relation to these directions. However, without additional context, it is impossible to connect these descriptions directly to established art movements or styles. The focus is on spatial dynamics and physical techniques rather than artistic expression in a conventional sense.
• What techniques or materials did C-Note use?+

  It is necessary to understand the techniques and processes used by artists. Technical knowledge informs art history. Artists make important choices that stand outside the constraints of materials. Metalwork techniques include chasing, repoussage, and gilding. Chasing is the process of finishing the surface of a metal cast or repoussé work by polishing and smoothing imperfections that occurred during casting or repoussage, for example, when removing rods from a metal cast. Repoussage involves placing a metal plate on a soft surface, then working it with a hammer and chisel punch. Gilding is the application of gold leaf or powder to a surface. Niello is an Italian term for a black mixture of lead, copper, or sulphur that is rubbed into metal plates with engraved patterns. The metallic alloys then form a black pattern on the polished metal ground. After the plate is engraved, the metal or sulphide is applied and burned on before the metal plate is polished.
• When did C-Note live and work?+

  Unfortunately, the passages provided do not contain specific information regarding C-Note's dates of birth or death, or places of residence or work. Passage 1 contains a series of dates from 1968 to 1970, which may relate to a specific project, exhibition, or series of works. However, without more context, it is impossible to determine the significance of these dates in relation to the artist's life or career. Passages 2, 3, 4, and 5 appear to be excerpts from art-history texts. These passages do not mention C-Note, so they cannot be used to answer the question. Further research would be needed to provide a detailed answer about C-Note's life and work.
• Where can I see C-Note's work?+

  You can view C-Note's work at several institutions. In the United States, these include: the American^[2] Numismatic Society in New York; the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), both in Los Angeles; the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution, New York; the Cleveland Museum of Art; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, both in New York; the Minneapolis Institute of Arts; the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond; the Wolfsonian at Florida International University in Miami Beach; the Pogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; The Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; The Saint Louis Art Museum; The Suite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame; University Art Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara; The University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor; and the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven. In Canada, see C-Note's work at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, or the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. In the UK, visit the Bakelite Museum in Williton; the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery; the Geffrye Museum, London; the Manchester Art Gallery; the National Museums of Scotland-Royal Museum, Edinburgh; the Keir Collection, London; or the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
• Who did C-Note influence?+

  C-Note's influence can be traced through several artistic movements and individual artists, particularly within the context of South African art during and after apartheid. Artists such as Thami Mnyele drew inspiration from figures like Kippie Moeketsi, a jazz saxophonist from the Sophiatown era. Mnyele integrated photographs of Moeketsi into montages, combining them with images of the Soweto uprising and comrades in battle. This approach highlights the expressive role of musicians and artists in reflecting the struggles against apartheid. Furthermore, C-Note's artistic approach shares similarities with the Black Consciousness movement, which sought to break down barriers between different art forms, including politics, performance, music, visual art, and poetry. The movement saw black music, poetry, and art as interconnected expressions of racial tribulation and potential for liberation. Figures like Gerard Sekoto, Ngatane, and Dumile Feni also served as examples for later artists, shaping the artistic styles and themes explored by subsequent generations.
• Who influenced C-Note?+

  It is difficult to say exactly who influenced C-Note, as information is limited. However, some general observations about artistic influence can be made. Many artists acknowledge the impact of Henri Matisse on their work. Some have described a "law of the grandfather", using Matisse's figurative work to bypass abstract expressionists. Some artists turned to abstraction and pure colour after studying with Matisse. Those who frequented the Café du Dome and Academie Matisse included Friedrich Ahlers-Hestermann, Bela Czobel, and Hans Purrmann. Laszlo Moholy-Nagy wrote of his discovery of Rembrandt, particularly his drawings. Moholy-Nagy found emotional force and psychological depth in Rembrandt's work. He also admired Vincent van Gogh's drawings, learning that line drawings should not be mixed with half tones, and that three-dimensional quality can be expressed through line. He learned that the quality of a picture is defined by the use of the medium in new visual relations.
• Who was C-Note?+

  There may be multiple people known as C-Note, as the name is a slang term for money. Without additional context or details, it is difficult to determine who is being asked about. However, research does provide information on other artists. Lyle Ashton Harris (born in New York, 1965^[2]) is an artist who works with photography and installation. Harris's work questions notions of race, sexuality, gender, family, and cultural history. Simone Yoyotte (born circa 1910) was from Martinique. She was involved with the Paris Surrealist Group and the Légitime Défense group, publishing poems and participating in surrealist activities. Richard Yarde was an artist who studied at Boston University and whose work was exhibited in Boston.
• Why are C-Note's works important today?+

  C-Note's output is relevant because it engages with questions of musical notation, chance operations, and the role of the artist. His work relates to the New York School of composers and artists, who, after the Second World War, explored new types of art. Composers like Cage, Feldman, and Wolff deconstructed traditional musical forms. Their work involved graphed and texted scores, multimedia events, and environmental elements. C-Note's pieces, such as *Paper Piece*, push these ideas further, questioning the precision of notation and the role of chance. The result is often indeterminate, blurring the lines between composed and improvised music. C-Note's art also touches on issues of commodification and cultural value. Like Basquiat, C-Note incorporates symbols of currency and references to popular culture, prompting reflection on the relationship between art and commerce. This approach encourages viewers to consider the value they place on artistic creation and the systems that govern its distribution.
• What was C-Note's art style?+

  Restricted by prison rules on materials, C-Note developed a distinctive technique using dry media, such as pencil, chalk, pastels, charcoal, and coloured pencil. He also invented a method using dissolved wax applied to paper, creating surfaces resembling painting.