Barbara Kruger

<--- kind of stupid looking, but oh so much love
(yay homemade!!)


This article made me feel stupid. It was only a page long, but I didn't get it. Or at least I am struggling to understand what she is talking about. Is she talking about photography? I think she might be. So that is what I am going to respond to. Well I think I need to read it a third time before I can finish this blog post..... Okay, nope still don't get it. Or maybe it is about paintings that reproduce what is seen in a photograph. Because I can agree that is not that great. Oh my, I can't even quote this article, I keep forgetting what I just read..... Oh yes, ummm, yeah.
Let me just talk about photo realistic paintings then. This Sunday I attended the salon series and the visiting artist was talking about where art was heading in New York. Let me just say very very disappointing. The artwork was photo realistic pieces, they seemed like they were pushing the boundaries to just push boundaries. But since there really are no boundaries at this time, they are really just trying to find the next "new thing" but really missing the mark. They seem to lack heart and soul. I personally find that art that speaks to people comes from the artist having something to say, not just saying anything. Kind of like talking to get a point across not just to fill the empty space. It's like attending a birthday party. I will not eat sheet cake. If someone lovingly made the person a birthday cake from scratch, not just bought a store bought cake. I will have some. But what is the point of sheet cake? It isn't good, it is just an empty gesture. I'm sorry if this is offensive, but I spend way too much effort on not settling.
Well anywho the artwork was just randomlly placed people, on a boring background but one of the artist blurred the edges of his work to make it look digitalized... it was lame. not even in a controversial, now I am insulted way, nope, just lame.

Sentences on Conceptual art

It is funny how people give so many rules to making art that is supposed to be breaking the rules. This blurb is saying that art is about the process and the perception, having a goal but not knowing what the outcome is going to be. Art is about the idea. So art does not have to be anything in particular but it has to have a starting point. Maybe that is what art is. A manifestation of an idea. Simply put.

John Cage

For "Theatre Piece," in 1960, Carolyn Brown put a tuba on her head, Cunningham slapped the strings of a piano with a dead fish, and David Tudor made tea.
John Cage's music was not about beauty, but trying to redefine what music is. He made parts of everyday life into music. Such as the traffic outside or a bird. He dared people to really listen to what was around them. He hoped for a world where people lived modestly, which he himself did. He was confident in his art, and positive about things turning out well.
I admire his direction. It is important to examine every aspect of life. It in of itself will keep a person modest. I also like his eccentricity. It is whimsical and fun. But he was very serious. Serious about being whimsical.

Western Disturbances

I watched Clown tourture, and it was not that emotional. But I suppose I wasn't in the room that it was being broadcast. I think if I was then I would not have been able to handle it.
Bruce Nauman worked when he was inspired. He would wait until inspiration stuck him. He played with his horses until that happened. He is quiet and observant.
His artwork is mostly disturbing, getting at human misery, and pain.
I believe his artwork is powerful but not beautiful. The only thing that is close to beauty is his fish fountains. But art is not all about beauty. It can be about thought.

The originality of the Avant-Garde

Yes, yes, yes. Once you set up an idea and start to tell others about it and they start to follow everything does loose its freshness, or originality. But it is almost impossible to always be coming up with something new. Creative process comes out of breaking the rules. So if there are not rules how can their be a way to break them. Avant-Garde sets up new rules for new artists to break, so in a way it is perpetuating the need for creation.

imitation of art

Thank you! At first I thought the article was going to be about how great John Currin's work was. I was a more than a little put off... I find his work unsettling and bland. Everything Lance Esplund said resonnated with me. It does seem like he is just stealing techniques. It does seem akward and forced, with no truth! I like how far Esplund went into demolishing Currin's paintings. Haha!

molotov man

Joy Garnett is trying to say that art is for everyone to interpret how they wish. Susan Meisela is saying that her art has meaning, a purpose and it is for her to decide how it is interpreted and what it means. Hmmm. I don't think anyone can control how others perceive their actions or words. I also believe that people should not control how others view their art. It would be the same as being in a gallery and having the artist stand there and tell you all about the artwork, what they were feeling, what it means to them, and where they stand to look at it. And then telling you, that you had to feel, think and stand in the same scenario as them. No, they can tell you, but you shouldn't have to listen.

I do believe that the painter should ask permission from the photographers before she starts painting, but I do not believe Susan should have been so appalled for the reasons that she was.