More dumb. I don't care what portrait painters do. They're not interested in art unless they put art first and that means would consider the portrait an engagement with what is possible as art and that would be the metaphor for the "remarkable characterization". The problem of art is not a matter of subject. Put subject first and you put art second, or third, or somewhere down the line of irrelevance. Just like the USSR art and the Nazi art you like so much. You think subject is primary. That's the position of philistines.
Outside the box? You mean I should be out there among the barbarians who don't know anything about art or art history and painting and the contemporary world of culture? The box I reside in is a sprawling castle. You can huddle around your bonfire in the frosty woods. wc ----- Original Message ---- From: Chris Miller <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, December 5, 2009 11:21:03 AM Subject: Re: Contemporary Portraits >It's marginalized because for the 'professional portrait painter" making an artwork, as something engaged in figuring out what's possible as art now, is not the primary goal. The primary goal is to paint a satisfactory likeness of the client. Usually it's the only goal. (WC) Or, perhaps the goal is to make a remarkable characterization of the client. Many other kinds of representative goals may be involved as well -- that are much more interesting than merely the "satisfactory likeness" by which you minimize and disparage the profession. > So, the task is not about art. That reverses your analogy" the real plumbers are those who try to make art as their first goal and the others are just using the form of art to practice a craft. That's 'art' as far as contemporary institutions of art are concerned. You need to see outside that box. >You've not made a big discovery of another conspiracy by museums to avoid your bias. The fact is that a lot of stuff made as if it were art is not art. It doesn't even engage the issues. I've never used the word 'conspiracy' because I don't think it applies. No conspiracy is involved when Hindu priests refuse to display Christian statuary in their churches. It's just that the statues of Jesus and Mary do not engage the issues that concern them. ____________________________________________________________ Diet Help Cheap Diet Help Tips. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/c?cp=xfjl7fi5rKMR5kn3sJmFFAAAJz6c l_zTaptgNR5c8Mer1v9kAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYQAAAAAA=
