From 1964 to 1966 he experimented with minimal art, sculpture, hard-edge geometric painting, found objects, and finally began a series of 15 - 9' x 6' mystical "border paintings". After a serious setback in February 1966 when his loft at 496 Broadway burned down, he returned to painting in April 1966 by sharing a loft with his friend Dan Christensen at 4 Great Jones Street. "The Border Painting" series was completed in July 1966, and soon after architect Philip Johnson acquired "Tan Painting" for the permanent collection of The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska.