Classic technique

Perhaps you can persuade Mani to let you join his club. We've all been hoping - for years now - that he might one day 'get it.' Some of us gave up hope on that score years ago! Other fresh faces keep him feeling young, unfortunately, and as long as there are naivetes out there, Mani will soldier on...

Is that you, Jack? When I saw your new handle it made me remember Red Foxx' old 'Prune Tang' routine. Oh, I know, you never listened to those dirty records.

I'm not so sure. There are wonderfull musicians who have extremely limited command of their instrument, yet who are able to melt our hearts, which is what music is all about. Just listen to some of the old school black blues players. Some of them were completely illiterate, and played only three chords on their guitars, but man, the entire Universe is to be found inside those three chords and they way they played them!

Some other, more sophisticated and schooled musicians, play incredibly intricate compositions, yet that leaves us cold and unengaged.

I always found it funny how ignorant and unobservant many art critics are. For example, they always say that 18th and 19th century art had as its goal to faithfully represent visual reality, while 20th century abstract art tries to move away from the representational aspect. But, if you really look at it, that's not true. Many of the old school paintings are huge stylizations, to the point of barely resembling the visible reality, while many of the abstract paintings could be perceived as faithfully rendering portions of reality. Often times, I can see a faithfull rendition of a piece of reality in an abstract painting, such as a portion of an object viewed under a strong magnifying glass, etc. It's just that the framing and composition of real life objects has changed with abstract painting, so that an artist may focus of portraying a small portion of an ocean wave, for example. But, usually that portion is rendered quite fauthfully, and sometimes breathtakingly masterfully.

So tell us what you've got that those who don't agree with you haven't?

Ok orangutang lets see whether your work outdoes a talented chimpanzee. Where's the work that goes withall that hope? Tired of Modern Art? See-

Hey, I'll believe anything anyone says about L.A. no matter how outrageous - just look at yesterday's events in the 'Golden State' where the 'Golden Boy' took the golden cake with promises of reviving the gold rush days!

says...

You've seen it many times over the years and I wouldn't think of boring you with it another time, nor of giving you the opportunity to trash it yet again. At least mine is made the 'old fashioned way' - not with the aid of computer software, as is yours.

Chords, not notes, therin lies the difference perhaps?.. I'm no expert on the blues (musically anyway) but I am aware that technically and artistically this and other music of the period is difficult to master (my dad plays a lot of it).

Anyway, perhaps its more to do with sensitivities. At various times I respond differently to the same works of art. Over time I change my opinions. Some art endures in its appeal to me, and so far its in the work that is technically strong as well as interesting emotionally. I think I've produced my best work when I have practiced to the point of 'forgetting' technique, when it becomes a natural way of expression. The work makes itself then.

I digress, as usual. The point I was going to make about sensitivities is that some people are sensitive to notes and see no more potential for them, others to chords and others to orchestras. Could be this is what 'its' about?

Abstraction may be its own worst enemy in the end. As it attempts to distill the essence of art, at some point there is loss of the coherence and the potential for nothing left to create from, no notes and no way of combining them.

Turns light out and goes to bed....

Mia

Absolutely, but the gold rush profits are for handler Key Lay. Arnie will settle the 9 billion dollar suit for 1 or 2 cents on the dollar, and the judge will throw the case out of court. Californians will pay dearly for their transgressions. I'm moving to San Felipe, BC, on the Gulf, where they have a stable goverment and reliable electricity!

Sure you have, it's at http://www.zianet.com/jaxart/ , (Hope you don't mind Jax).. Maybe it's not your cuppa tea but I like it (particularly the prnts and drawings). And he seems to know how to handle paint (unlike some TA's, err, 'associate adjuncts' who lean more towards parging....

But then again, Mani, I like some of your stuff too. I wonder what the commonality is? Perhaps my general lack of taste.....

BTW Mani - here's a quote for you - I just picked up a 1st edition of 'The Schock of the New' (not your favourite I suppose) & cruising through it I came across this quote from George Grosz I thought you'd like:

'My aim is to be understood by everyone. I reject the 'depth' that people demand nowadays, into which you can never descend without a veritable diving-bell crammed with cabalistic bullshit and intellectual metaphysics.'

ure you have, it's at http://www.zianet.com/jaxart/ , (Hope you don't mind Jax).. Maybe it's not your cuppa tea but I like it (particularly the prnts and drawings). And he seems to know how to handle paint (unlike some TA's, err, 'associate adjuncts' who lean more towards parging....

But then again, Mani, I like some of your stuff too. I wonder what the commonality is? Perhaps my general lack of taste.....

BTW Mani - here's a quote for you - I just picked up a 1st edition of 'The Schock of the New' (not your favourite I suppose) & cruising through it I came across this quote from George Grosz I thought you'd like:

'My aim is to be understood by everyone. I reject the 'depth' that people demand nowadays, into which you can never descend without a veritable diving-bell crammed with cabalistic bullshit and intellectual metaphysics.'

[ There's more to the quote for the collectivist minded...., it's on p. 78]

Cheers,

which is why sometimes it is more interesting to hear one or two notes played just right than a myriad of notes, all technically correct, that provoke no feeling. parrallel: lots of detail, photographic perfection vs. only the essentials being defined other things are hinted at or obscured altogether. i've tried to get a response from this little opinion before and here, now with the streagngth of two vodkas with mangoorange juice i make the point again. one which i really don't care if others subscribe too or not, cause, hey, it makes ME smile in the morning when i approach the easel.