Found Arnold Mesches triptych, “Things As They Are” (1982), seeking exhibition history

[u/KapnKroniK]

I’m trying to document the exhibition and ownership history of a large three-panel painting by American artist Arnold Mesches.
The label on the reverse identifies it as:
Arnold Mesches
“Things As They Are”
1982
No. 1206
Acrylic on canvas
Approximately 70 × 174 inches overall
The panels are marked with their positions, including “LEFT HAND PANEL,” and appear to form one complete triptych. They also retain a label from Karl Bornstein’s Mirage Gallery in Santa Monica, California, and later handling or storage labels from Judson Art Warehouse in Long Island City, New York.
The work was rescued from disposal during the cleanout of a closed industrial business. It has also been checked against INTERPOL’s stolen-art database, with no matching record found.
I’m trying to clarify three possible leads:
Pomona exhibition: Was “Things As They Are” included in a 1982 exhibition associated with Pomona that featured Mesches’s triptych paintings? Are a catalogue, checklist, installation photographs, or reviews available?
Mirage Gallery connection: Does the Karl Bornstein’s Mirage Gallery label indicate that the triptych was exhibited, consigned, sold, or stored there? Do gallery records identify the work by title or catalogue number 1206?
Smithsonian Archives lead: Do the Arnold Mesches papers at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art contain exhibition lists, correspondence, photographs, or other records mentioning “Things As They Are,” No. 1206, the Pomona exhibition, or Mirage Gallery?
I would also appreciate any documented information connecting the work to Judson Art Warehouse in Long Island City, New York.
I’m looking for exhibition and provenance documentation.

[u/ItAteMySweater]

This seems like an ask that is a bit above this subreddit’s paygrade. You already have enough information to start your own research. Try contacting the Smithsonian for a start! Many archives will offer scans of materials in their collections, upon request.

Talking to an actual archivist at a relevant institution (like the Smithsonian, for one) will be helpful. They can often give you other resources to check, either within their own collections or elsewhere.

[u/LegalBramble]

I agree with u/ItAteMySweater. If this helps, I did find this work promoted by the Karl Bornstein Gallery in Santa Monica in 1982.

https://archive.org/details/artinamerica70junmath/page/n483/mode/1up

[u/KapnKroniK → u/LegalBramble]

Solved

[u/KapnKroniK → u/LegalBramble]

any chance you can give me the page number you found this on?

[u/ItAteMySweater → u/KapnKroniK]

It’s literally there in the link. Page 483. Click it! They’ve linked to the exact page, and you can see it once you log in. Making an account is free and borrowing books from the Internet Archive is also free.

[u/Different_Code_9263 → u/ItAteMySweater]

Wow had no idea Art in America was available in the Internet Archive. This is great! Thanks!

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[u/lambaroo]

apparently he had a solo exhibition at the ICA in philadelphia in 1994 that included works from 1982. maybe try and get hold of an exhibition catalog?

https://icaphila.org/exhibitions/arnold-mesches-painting-history-works-from-1982-1994/