The Brooklyn Rail

We met for the first time in March of 1968. Half a year later, Richard had his first European exhibition at my gallery in Cologne. When preparing for his show we visited the workshop of Torrey, the local lead manufacturer. Richard was hooked right away.

Invited to participate in two seminal 1969 exhibitions—Op Losse Schroeven, situaties en cryptostructuren in Amsterdam and When Attitudes Become Form in Berne—Richard asked me to secure a certain number of lead plates. They were waiting for him in either place so that after his arrival in Amsterdam on March 7 and a few days later in Berne he could start working immediately. And that is also how his participation in his next showing at my gallery came together: Sechs Künstler der Galerie Ricke took place between those exhibitions in Amsterdam and Berne. Richard’s instructions were always strict, crystal clear, and precise. I made sure that they were followed in that spirit and Richard was pleased with the results.

After the opening of the Amsterdam show we drove through the night in my car to Germany. During that trip Richard conceived an important neon piece (Outside) which then was realized in Cologne in just three days.

Just imagine: during those ten days in Amsterdam, Cologne, and Berne, Richard Serra created some fifteen trail-blazing sculptures.

Those were grand times and I learned an enormous amount from Richard.

In closing, this quote from our late friend: “When I wish Cologne cathedral to be moved, Rolf will get it done.” I would have given it my best.

Thank you, Richard, for everything!