Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/19/2004 | Executive privilege

Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/19/2004 | Executive privilege: "Comcast Corp. founder Ralph J. Roberts among the area's top-paid executives for the year: Each collected about $35 million - plenty of money even by corporate standards, but still only a fraction of the $100 million-plus top executives at both companies had collected in prior years, thanks to generous stock options left over from the 1990s."

The rich may not shop for their art in Philadelphia because it is more important to hop the corporate jet and go to Paris, London or NY.

Artomatic 2004: Hanging Is Too Good for It

Artomatic 2004: Hanging Is Too Good for It (washingtonpost.com): "Or worse. A show like Artomatic, in theory organized and stocked by lovers and supporters of fine art, is actively insulting to all the genuinely talented artists who have managed the long slog to a professional career." wrote Blake Gopnik.

We live in a country that has no cultural identity. Enough said.

Power To The People

Power To The People: "America"

Here is the real question. Rather than complain about not having support from the rich or blaming the Quaker heritage for the lack of energy in the art community, why not find another structure to find hope?

The Philadelphia art galleries and artists should get together with the art museums and work to create some excitement. Why not have a day for art- for "Arts Sake" on the Parkway? Surely there are a million artists in the Five County region who would walk for art.

Famous Philadelphians - Nine Richest Philadelphians

Famous Philadelphians - Nine Richest Philadelphians: "Locally ten residents of the Greater Philadelphia/South Jersey area were included in the 2002 list."

If these are the wealthiest Philadelphians then it looks like they do a lot for the arts. So where is the mystical Quaker hate of the arts? Did Warhol paint the soup can for a purely selfish reason?

F. J. Nicholson: Quakers and the Arts, chap 2

F. J. Nicholson: Quakers and the Arts, chap 2: "In the vocabulary of the first Friends the key-word was Simplicity. Simplicity (sine plexus), without folds, complexities; the core of religious faith and practice was stripped of all that was considered inessential. The simplicity of Truth was found by breaking off the accretions of creeds and removing the weary load of "

Some people might confuse simplicity with emptyness or nothing. This is far from the truth.

Thanks

For the freedom to see and make what I want. The friendships that nourish the soul when the world seems so crazy and destructive.

Peace

Rodger LaPelle Hangs Art, Not Artists - P.A.W. Print - Philadelphia Arts Writers

Rodger LaPelle Hangs Art, Not Artists - P.A.W. Print - Philadelphia Arts Writers: "The Quakers (who used to dress as if they were Hassidic) never really liked art, either. They had long ago instituted an ordered, subdued place for art, the buying of which was encouraged by the new nation as the practice of a patriotic conspicuous consumption. The Quakers were the first earners in Pennsylvania, whose patronage of the arts was frugal but now reflected their growing buying power. For instance, they celebrated their fortune by purchasing a Millet farm scene for the living room, which was never anything risqu or maudlin. Their expenditures never grew beyond a level at which the Society of Friends would begin to judge the purchasers to be frivolous. In other words, in the absence of passionate themes, wild explorations of the canvas with Fauve colors and huge, dedicated budgets, art in Philadelphia remained blas and undeveloped." wrote Delvecchia

LaPelle must think that Quakers still think like the one depicted on the Quaker Oat box. LaPelle seems to be promoting religious bigotry. Why blame a small religious sect for the lack of energy in the current Philadelphia art world. Digby Baltsel, the husband of Jane Piper wrote in his book about this theme. The problem with this thinking is that it removes from blame the role of the wealthy catholic, protestant and Jewish members of the community. Did the Quakers stop Dr. Barnes, Mr Smith or the Montgomery family from supporting the Barnes Foundation, Woodmere or PMA? Did the Quakers stop the Calder family from making the sculptures that line the Parkway? If there are Quakers who don't support his art then he should just find people who do and stop making hate speech.

Sculpture Magazine

Sculpture Magazine: "In addition to his new work at the MFA, and recent exhibitions at the CAM and Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery, James Turrell has also been active in Houston"

Some Quakers become famous while others remain unknown.

Seminar Sheds New Light on Early Philadelphia Decorative Arts; Maine Antique Digest, January 2000

Seminar Sheds New Light on Early Philadelphia Decorative Arts; Maine Antique Digest, January 2000: "Several speakers, including Jack Lindsey and Sandra Mackenzie Lloyd, defined the Quaker aesthetic, noting that it was apparently not sinful for Quakers to use their wealth to enjoy life as long as they gave an equal amount to Quaker meeting."

Wealth was not a personal triumph but a responsability of stewardship. A concept that is lost today!

Quaker art

Britain & the Slave trade: "Cultural Enrichment

"The profits from the slave plantations enriched Britain's art, architecture and literature. Thousands of slave traders sought to raise their social status by investing their money in the arts - buying works of art to adorn their houses or becoming patrons. The Theatre journal referred in 1720 to rich families of Merchants and Traders who in their furniture, equippage, Manner of Living... are so far from being below the Gentry that many deserve the Imitation of the modern Nobility."

Did the wealth that was gained on the backs of the oppressed lead to a Quaker aesthetic of simplicity by those who fought against slavery? Was Edward Hicks really painting about the abolition of slavery?

THE COLLECTOR'S GUIDE: WOMEN ARTIST PIONEERS OF NEW MEXICO

THE COLLECTOR'S GUIDE: WOMEN ARTIST PIONEERS OF NEW MEXICO: "Olive Rush (1873"

There have been many artists of the Quaker faith for the last 150 years.

2. Quaker aesthetics

2. Quaker aesthetics for those who think that Quakers think art is wrong.

religious confusion

"LaPelle believes that the shabby civil engineering is indicative of the overall lousy aesthetic that was laid in stone during the 1600's. The original city was founded by Quakers, after all. They considered the arts to be frivolous. Theirs was the bedrock attitude of the burgeoning city and is the ideological foundation stone. In Philadelphia, he continues, the influence of the Amish, Muslims, Hassidic Jews and other art-hating peoples has always flourished." wrote Delvecchia

I find it strange that a city controled by art haters had the first art school.

MoMa admission

The New York Times > Arts > Art & Design > What Is the Value of Priceless Art? Debate Continues on $20 Admission: "Mr. Lowry said he was not surprised by protests of the $20 admission and defended the fee, saying the museum receives no operating money from the government.

'If you think that museums should be free, campaign for a government that will support that,'' he said in a telephone interview yesterday. 'We're in a country where there is a cost for culture.''" wrote Carol Vogel.

If we follow the business model of the Lowry side we will have high cost stores of art for the rich and Wal-mart stores of art for everyone else. The idea is- if you can't afford it- to bad!

Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/18/2004 | Art trove going from basement to sales block

Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/18/2004 | Art trove going from basement to sales block: "The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, a tuition-free art school and an active part of Philadelphia's cultural community, will auction nearly all its remaining artwork Saturday at the Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J." Wrote Patricia Horn.

The support that the Fleisher has contrasts with the mishandleing of the Barnes. The difference is the perceived importance of the art in their holdings. Fleisher has done more to support the appreciation of art in Philadelphia because they haven't been hamstrung by the odd concepts of Dr. Barnes.

ArtsJournal: Modern Art Notes

ArtsJournal: Modern Art Notes: "Holy drywall. The stuff is a mess. Wavy, full of lines, busted corners, and more. Completely shoddy." wrote Tyler Green about the new MoMa gallery.

Could this also describe the current state of the art being made today? Has America lost all craftsmanship?

artnet.com Magazine Features - Gates of Perception

artnet.com Magazine Features - Gates of Perception: "It is the old musical metaphor for abstract painting, but with a different music -- not Kandinsky" wrote Donald Kuspit on Alfred Leslie.

Along with Jack Beal and Philip Pearlstein those who found a different path from their expressionist past. It is understanding their past that allows for the value in their later art. The NY art centers rejected their move to realism without giving credit for the reality of what they choose to paint and why.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/14/2004 | On the brink of resolution

Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/14/2004 | On the brink of resolution: "Within days - possibly by Thanksgiving - a Montgomery County Orphans' Court judge will rule on whether the Barnes can move its multibillion-dollar art collection from Lower Merion to a site along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway." Wrote Patricia Horn.

Will there be joy or loss?

Submerging artist

In reading the Getty post linked by Tyler Green at MAN I found that the current President of UA was connected to the conflict at the Getty. His message on the Uarts web page makes me think about how my dreams of student days have submerged. The cost of living has gone up while income has gone down. Without capital to hire models or pay for casting I can only do the least possible not the best that I'm dreaming of.

UArts : Check Us Out: "The University of the Arts is an exceptional institution full of exciting and challenging ideas. It helps fulfill the dream of a future in the arts and prepares committed students for successful careers. It is a place where faculty of unsurpassed expertise and experience and students share your passion. The staff is totally committed to the students’ dreams. And our University is located in a vibrantly diverse and energetic city—an inspiration for us all. Come and experience the power of discovery.
Miguel Angel Corzo"

From the Floor: An Open Letter to Greg Allen

This is what Todd Gibson says about the MoMA Fee From the Floor: An Open Letter to Greg Allen: "These passes aren’t for me since I don’t need them. They are for ten real New Yorkers I know who probably won’t be able to go to MoMA this year without them. If you give me your ten passes, I will pass them along to the following people."

Fair museum fees

Philadelphia Museum of Art 26th St & the Parkway $10 Pay what you want Sun.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts $5

James A Michener Art Museum $6.50

Delaware Art Museum $7

Brandywine River Museum $8

Barnes Foundation $5

Woodmere Art Museum $5

If museums can afford to build $100- $500 million buildings Why can't they afford to make the art available to the public?

ArtsJournal: Modern Art Notes MoMa fee

ArtsJournal: Modern Art Notes: "Regarding the remedy, it's too late. MoMA says that they need to charge $20 to cover new, increased operating expenses. Well, if that's the case, they overbuilt." Tyler Greens' good ideas about the new admission fee.

My question is, who does the museum want to come to their show. If a movie ticket is $8.50 and dinner is $35 or more it seems reasonable that anyone should be able to afford it. This is really about the total disconnect in our economy. The well paid teachers and middle class workers might go to NY on vacation and spend $250 per night for a room and $85 for a show.

Who this will hurt is the starving artist or worker, on a limited budget, who might only go on the free days.

Is this a form of economic segregation?

Here is my test for the well healed professionals who think nothing of spending $5 on a cup of coffee. What is the worth of the lowest paid worker who cleans up after you leave the museum filled with visual images floating in your head? Should the admission be four times the pay of the minimum wage worker?

I might go once. I can see all the new modern art I want for free at the galleries anyway.

ArtsJournal: Modern Art Notes

Tyler Green's MAN hits it on the nose! ArtsJournal: Modern Art Notes: "Marketing is marketing. Gotcha. But still, this promotional text for LACMA's hanging of some Phillips Collection paintings is absurd:"

"Picture yourself in a 1920s-era sitting room, in the home of a passionate art collector, admiring your host's latest acquisition"

Of course the Barnes could write the same thing about their collection and they wouldn't have to move it anywhere! People who want to see great art will go where ever they can.