tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1716933964814939778.post8709288288085758964..comments2024-02-03T16:54:27.992-08:00Comments on Late Braking Gnus: What They Say/What They Think They Mean/What They Really MeanJudith Schaechterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09101849171288268318noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1716933964814939778.post-16206734174601512932021-10-15T09:08:34.715-07:002021-10-15T09:08:34.715-07:00I've just found your blog, I'm enjoying it...I've just found your blog, I'm enjoying it a lot.<br /><br />The 'what do they really mean' thing - I've been chewing on that for at least 10 years. I think the thing is this - when you've hung around art galleries and stared at fine work both ancient and modern for long enough, you start to develop a sense of what 'works' and what doesn't. But it's not easy to find words to explain to someone else.<br /><br />Paula Rego's work is Good: narrative, but complex, many-layered and dark. Malevich's work is Good: simple, but heavy with meaning and infused with the spirit of his time. Much UK Victorian painting is Not Good (as Fine Art) because it's pretty and decorative but devoid of meaning - like eating a sugar cube instead of a sweet cinnamon pastry. It looks lovely on a tin of biscuits, but you wouldn't want it on your wall.<br /><br />I think those criticisms are more about finding a way to say 'this isn't very good' in a way that might be of help to a student.<br />Personally I've given up wondering whether my work is 'Good', I'm happy to enjoy making it.<br /><br />MoiraMoira (Half Full Glass)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17683100734725474378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1716933964814939778.post-27443301436164130622020-07-24T12:33:11.804-07:002020-07-24T12:33:11.804-07:00Wow, Starry Gordon--that is such a great story! T...Wow, Starry Gordon--that is such a great story! Thank you for sharing it!--JudithAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03537721690933517108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1716933964814939778.post-29282607058614361222020-07-24T09:01:09.453-07:002020-07-24T09:01:09.453-07:00I was once invited to the atelier (also home) of a...I was once invited to the atelier (also home) of a pretty well-known animator with whom I have a casual acquaintance. 'This isn't art critic time,' she said, 'I just want you to look at a certain section of my work and tell me if you understand it -- if it makes sense.' (Her work was pretty abstract but representational.) So I looked at it and said it made sense. She had me explain it and I did. 'Thank you,' she said. 'If you can understand it, most people will.' 'That's not much of a compliment,' I said. 'Yes it is,' she said.<br /><br />Actually, I _was_ complimented, because the experience was sort of like sitting on the bench at the organ with J.S. Bach when he's working out a fugue, and he turns to you and says, 'What do you think? B or B-flat?'Starry Gordonhttp://starrygordon.comnoreply@blogger.com