--- In [email protected], "mrfishey2001" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In [email protected], "Patrick Gillam" <jpgillam@> > wrote: >> >> "Amen. >> >> I've observed two extremes in art; one you might call >> the "pure beauty" school and one you might call the >> "cathartic" school. The Pure Beauty school is like Monet's >> water lilies -- very pretty. The Cathartic school may or >> may not have the obvious beauty of the Beauty school, >> but whatever it has, it juxtaposes it with pain, and may >> even heal the pain in the process. >> >> People who've visited the University of Iowa Museum >> of Art may have seen the Nazi Drawings of Mauricio >> Lasansky. That's an example of the Cathartic school. >> Work that's horrible to contemplate, but too compelling >> not to contemplate. >> >> I thought my 'ru buddy Pam would acknowledge the >> Cathartic school becaue it operates somewhat the way >> transcending releases stress, but she was adamant that >> artists do people a disservice to be anything but positive. >> It was the classic "no negativity" TMO position lamented >> here on occasion. >> >> But that was 20 years ago. I don't know what her position >> might be today." > > Marvelous post Patrick. Heartfelt and genuine. Lasansky's > art is indeed painfully clear and uncompromisingly stark. > Only more tragic is its undeserved anonymity. > > I'm reminded of a quote from the great American painter > Agnes Martin who observed: "All artwork is about beauty: > all positive work represents it and celebrates it. All > negative art protests the lack of beauty in our lives."
I think the issue has more to do with "flow" than with subject matter. Great art represents a *journey*; it *takes* you somewhere. Sometimes it can take you from darkness and lead you to light; other times it can start with light and lead you to greater light. But the bottom line for me is where it *leaves* you at the end of the journey. If it shows you darkness and reveals to you a path to light, that's one thing. If it shows you darkness and *leaves* you there, that's another. Much of what is considered good art these days tends to fall into the latter category. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
