Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Jumping in the middle of the fray: this was exactly my > point on my PAW. > Folks in the middle of great art were standing around > staring at their > watch, looking off into space. > > > > Why should the US government support art when people pay > > to see truly > > wonderful surrealist work and then don't see it. It was > > more stamping the > > been there, done that card than drinking in the world > > that fine art can show > > us. Well, I went to see the Surrealism show at the Tate Modern, and it was very busy (and had been open for a while), but 90% of the people were studying the art. I went back to the Tate Modern on a rainy Saturday to look at the other galleries and it was very busy - again, surprise surprise, most of the people were looking at the art. People were talking about it, explaining it to children, young and old people were standing there sketching from works, I was pushing my six month old round, showing him the Picassos and Hockneys and Mondrians and Giacomettis... (oh and the giant Gursky photographs - really good). This was people enjoying and appreciating art. And it was busier and livelier than the average deadened mall I seem to come across everywhere I go. (on top of which it's a damned neat building). BTW, the gallery got 5.25 million visitors in the first year it was open (and it wasn't exactly quiet when I visited). That's a lot of people who seem interested in art...? A quick pic from my trip to the Tate? http://www.pdiphotos.com/pr/tatherton/tatherton-2002Feb22-001-pr.jpg (excuse the watermark...!) Okay, it's public art (free to view), although a private institution, but as I recall, lots of government money went into it too. My point - people will experience and can enjoy art if you give em a chance Tim A - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html