Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/10/31

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Subject: Re: Master Adams versus frauds?
From: Eric Welch <ewelch@ponyexpress.net>
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 1997 00:15:18 -0600

At 06:03 PM, you wrote:

>Should I really be embarrassed for the crime of appreciating Witkin, Arbus
and (gasp) 
>Serrano? Those of you who are most vocal about hating their work say it
very forcfully 
>and too often. 

Danny,

You misread my intent. ( I know, that's easy to do). I don't think you are
wrong to like Witkin. Or Arbus. My point was that we all have differences,
and we all find one thing good and another not. That's what makes us so
interesting as people. The reason I brought it up was to say that Adams was
rejected by a good part of the art world for speaking his mind. You woudn't
deny that to anyone, and neither would I. But contrasting Witkin's work to
Adams is about as obvious as I could get. I certainly don't like it. But
that doesn't mean it's not art, just that I find offense that the art world
can condemn Adams as a hack technician with no soul, while paying Witking
homage because he's "compelling." When in fact, Adams touched many people
in a way only true art can touch people. Me being from the West obviously
has more to relate to his vision than people from the "Right Coast." Or
from the Western artists who eschew beauty as legitimate art.

So if I offended you, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

I'm ready to quit this topic. 
==========

Eric Welch
St. Joseph, MO
http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch

More hay, Trigger? No thanks, Roy, I'm stuffed!