A review of a review (Edward Goldman) of an exhibition of anonymous artists who went to art school.
BOOM Los Angeles 2012 (07/27-08/24), presented by Den Contemporary is an MFA Invitational Group Exhibition, featuring artwork from over 90 continuing and recently graduated MFA students from a number of universities here in Southern California. The review, by Southern California based art critic, for a Southern California based National radio station, Is a protest of sorts having something to do with academic identity and THE REAL art world. Their names will be absent and in objection. Review by Edward Goldman
Like burning houses and roof's on fire...HOT and NAKED! Seriously! Followed by a prayer for these artists. Wishing upon them a kind of "speak truth to power" wake up call to what he describes as a "REAL world". This is truly above and beyond a simple, ordinary art review! Seriously!
Apparently, this author feels the word "real", in art, equates to figurative painting and sculpture. Tangible and commodified objects of greatness by master artisans for their masters. That emerging contemporary artists aren't fine arty enough! He discusses the importance of portraiture as an academic and financial incentive for art students and art schools. Going as far back as the "Pharaohs to the gilded era of American robber barons", to demonstrate a demand for FINE portrait artists to archive the greatness of people like John Wayne (John being really sensitive).
We are also notified that corporate boardrooms, Great Halls and Presidential Palaces are suffering as a result of this lack of LEGENDARY & MAGNIFICENT portrait artists.
Aside from the age of the enlightenment, reason and departure from state and religious patronage. As well as the Industrial Age, the invention of photography and the internet. There is more than enough attention to portraiture in most of these and many many many other schools in California, the nation, the globe. The attention to craftsmanship may be a topic more worthy of discussion. In another climate, one not so HOT, steaming with regal, vocational notions of a caste education and art market. I think we, or I, can imagine something more relevant and urgent than the good, the bad and the ugly paintings of powerful people. Things like what does this exhibition actually say about new art surfacing from these regional MFA programs. How does that reflect the area, art, the world, the art world, the art market and me me me? What about how the work out of the UC, State, and private schools compare to each other? As the show encompassed them all. It may have been as simple as to inquire what school the artist represents. That is a blunder on the part of the organizers. But hardly the artists fault and lazy lazy reporting! In my opinion, it is not the "larger than life businessman", king or queen that deserve better, it is your reader!
The title of this piece is "Should Art Schools Ignore the Art Market?". The writer, took some snapshots of the work that helped him go BOOM BOOM BOOM on his somewhat reluctant BOOMing excursion. If you look closely, put your reading glasses on, you will see an installation of red pillows uncomfortably pinned to the walls. The writer then takes us visually, with what appears to be a camera phone, into the next room. In this place we find a split video projection of a robust woman in contrasting positions. Described by our literary guide as "naked woman happily rolling on the floor and singing". From my given vantage point, I am on the fence as to whether or not the woman is happy. I would also really like to know what the woman is singing. As this digital picture tells far less than a thousand words without context. And the brief synopsis only conveys that this woman is not only "overweight", "over-weight", but that she is "seriously" "overweight", "over-weight". NOT GOOD apparently! Is this piece SERIOUS or just seriously over-weight?
Moving really quickly along! Next, a brief account of something on fire!
Immediately transporting the viewer into a void. A menacing void with shiny lights. The reader is constrained along with it's author into an unavoidable state of Attention Deficit Distress. Followed by Disorder apparently.
The writer then describes the art in this exhibition as "seriously under cooked."
(Some Like It Hot).
Apparently, this author feels the word "real", in art, equates to figurative painting and sculpture. Tangible and commodified objects of greatness by master artisans for their masters. That emerging contemporary artists aren't fine arty enough! He discusses the importance of portraiture as an academic and financial incentive for art students and art schools. Going as far back as the "Pharaohs to the gilded era of American robber barons", to demonstrate a demand for FINE portrait artists to archive the greatness of people like John Wayne (John being really sensitive).
We are also notified that corporate boardrooms, Great Halls and Presidential Palaces are suffering as a result of this lack of LEGENDARY & MAGNIFICENT portrait artists.
Aside from the age of the enlightenment, reason and departure from state and religious patronage. As well as the Industrial Age, the invention of photography and the internet. There is more than enough attention to portraiture in most of these and many many many other schools in California, the nation, the globe. The attention to craftsmanship may be a topic more worthy of discussion. In another climate, one not so HOT, steaming with regal, vocational notions of a caste education and art market. I think we, or I, can imagine something more relevant and urgent than the good, the bad and the ugly paintings of powerful people. Things like what does this exhibition actually say about new art surfacing from these regional MFA programs. How does that reflect the area, art, the world, the art world, the art market and me me me? What about how the work out of the UC, State, and private schools compare to each other? As the show encompassed them all. It may have been as simple as to inquire what school the artist represents. That is a blunder on the part of the organizers. But hardly the artists fault and lazy lazy reporting! In my opinion, it is not the "larger than life businessman", king or queen that deserve better, it is your reader!
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