I agree with you and Clarke. A casual discussion with an artist is worth much more than the obfuscating verbiage to make things seem much more intellectual. And, yes. the real communication (if there is one) is between the art and observer.
Yessir. One of my favorite things to do is take friends who think they don’t like art to museums. And give them permission to like/dislike whatever they want. No art talk allowed. Though I do love hearing what they’re drawn to. I try to turn it into a game. “What’s your favorite in this room?” often illicits childlike wonder is former weary observers. The eye and gut are greater than the mind and mouth in this case. :-)
One of my friends, with whom I have lost contact, was an lecturer in fine art and an art therapist. She agrees with us but the university encouraged students to "label" their art with abstruse waffle.
Many of the artists that I have personally known are - amongst other things - empaths and intuitives. Feelings, connections, deeper meanings. That is what drew me to my expartner and now as a beloved friend of more than 40 years. It is probably what connects you with me.
I loved the softness of Holland Day's works, especially the few of young black men. It was also a revelation to see photos of Kahlil Gibran - his "The Prophet" was a staple of our early hippie lives and I recently discovered a brilliant graphic novel of his work by Zeina Abirached, also Lebanese, that brings his poetry to life and art. The whole thing capped off by one of my earliest hard-ons, Peter Berlin, who, it turns out, is just a little older than me at 83 now!!!! How time flickers!!
🏳️🌈🌈😱💚💚💚💚💚🦜🚢Thanks Clint, Peter and happy birthday to John Rechy, who Made the scene week to week day to day hour to hour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoCBtMtxM3c The John Rechy Archive RT 03:21🏳️🌈🌈😱🦜🚢💚💚💚💚💚
wiki: The Cooper Do-nuts Riot happened in 1959 in Los Angeles, when the lesbians, gay men, transgender people, and drag queens who hung out at Cooper Do-nuts and who were frequently harassed by the LAPD fought back after police arrested three people, including Rechy. Patrons began pelting the police with donuts and coffee cups. The LAPD called for back-up and arrested a number of rioters. Rechy and the other two original detainees were able to escape.[12] He later wrote about it in City of Night.
As a general reference for this phenomenon in art: "The Painted Word" by Thomas Wolfe. On the topic of the philosophy of aesthetics generally: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Or Aristotle. Whoever floats your boat. I never listen to artists about their art unless they are talking processes, or to writers about the meaning of their works. As you say, these interfere with perception and enjoyment. Even good old WB Yeats, who was called to do this stuff was not so interesting as his life was: poet, revolutionary, politician, playwright, frustrated lover. The wry ones are best at this. G.K. Chesterton, when asked to send a response to a newspaper about the question of "what's wrong with the world," wrote: "I am." Brilliant.
Agreed. And I’ve been meaning to read “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” For years. God, I’m a pro procrastinator. Thanks for the reminder about the book, Clarke! As for art talks, I wanted to scream at this last one: “The audience is listening!” Cuz they were so concerned with using the approved jargon they were boring as fuck. Their walk was good, but their talk was not. I wanted to shake some common sense into a couple of them. But then…I’d be in jail. lol
Right on, honey.
I agree with you and Clarke. A casual discussion with an artist is worth much more than the obfuscating verbiage to make things seem much more intellectual. And, yes. the real communication (if there is one) is between the art and observer.
Often it is a gut reaction not a cerebral one.
Yessir. One of my favorite things to do is take friends who think they don’t like art to museums. And give them permission to like/dislike whatever they want. No art talk allowed. Though I do love hearing what they’re drawn to. I try to turn it into a game. “What’s your favorite in this room?” often illicits childlike wonder is former weary observers. The eye and gut are greater than the mind and mouth in this case. :-)
One of my friends, with whom I have lost contact, was an lecturer in fine art and an art therapist. She agrees with us but the university encouraged students to "label" their art with abstruse waffle.
Many of the artists that I have personally known are - amongst other things - empaths and intuitives. Feelings, connections, deeper meanings. That is what drew me to my expartner and now as a beloved friend of more than 40 years. It is probably what connects you with me.
I loved the softness of Holland Day's works, especially the few of young black men. It was also a revelation to see photos of Kahlil Gibran - his "The Prophet" was a staple of our early hippie lives and I recently discovered a brilliant graphic novel of his work by Zeina Abirached, also Lebanese, that brings his poetry to life and art. The whole thing capped off by one of my earliest hard-ons, Peter Berlin, who, it turns out, is just a little older than me at 83 now!!!! How time flickers!!
Yeah, I love both Holland and Berlin. Can you imagine if they had had a chance to collaborate? Swoon…and cheers, my dears!
🏳️🌈🌈😱💚💚💚💚💚🦜🚢Thanks Clint, Peter and happy birthday to John Rechy, who Made the scene week to week day to day hour to hour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoCBtMtxM3c The John Rechy Archive RT 03:21🏳️🌈🌈😱🦜🚢💚💚💚💚💚
Thanks, Steve! What a wonderful intro into his archive…hope to read more about him and his work soon. Cheers!
wiki: The Cooper Do-nuts Riot happened in 1959 in Los Angeles, when the lesbians, gay men, transgender people, and drag queens who hung out at Cooper Do-nuts and who were frequently harassed by the LAPD fought back after police arrested three people, including Rechy. Patrons began pelting the police with donuts and coffee cups. The LAPD called for back-up and arrested a number of rioters. Rechy and the other two original detainees were able to escape.[12] He later wrote about it in City of Night.
As a general reference for this phenomenon in art: "The Painted Word" by Thomas Wolfe. On the topic of the philosophy of aesthetics generally: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Or Aristotle. Whoever floats your boat. I never listen to artists about their art unless they are talking processes, or to writers about the meaning of their works. As you say, these interfere with perception and enjoyment. Even good old WB Yeats, who was called to do this stuff was not so interesting as his life was: poet, revolutionary, politician, playwright, frustrated lover. The wry ones are best at this. G.K. Chesterton, when asked to send a response to a newspaper about the question of "what's wrong with the world," wrote: "I am." Brilliant.
Agreed. And I’ve been meaning to read “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” For years. God, I’m a pro procrastinator. Thanks for the reminder about the book, Clarke! As for art talks, I wanted to scream at this last one: “The audience is listening!” Cuz they were so concerned with using the approved jargon they were boring as fuck. Their walk was good, but their talk was not. I wanted to shake some common sense into a couple of them. But then…I’d be in jail. lol