OGman’s Art Blog vol 1 april 2008


Why art? Why now?- Why not!


A little intro:


I’ve studied, created, hung, sold, and anguished over Art (more or less) since 1978- discovered during one of my reading jags as I wandered into the art section of our local library.
Sooo, the topics of this 21st Century diary/diatribe will cover the visual arts I’ve encountered and suffered through and will continue to celebrate. In answer to the question:
Why Art? :
Aside from my bladder- art gives me a reason to get out of bed.



It All Started With Vincent, maybe


The V-man- Vincent Van Gogh(1853-1890)
-that romantic, schizoid, misunderstood genius of the art myth machine was introduced to me in the guise of the dominant art-form of the 20th and current century-Cinema. Many versions on film, but the version that more closely resembles the man from his letters is Vincente Minneli’s 1956 film, Lust for Life.. Seeing his work in person, I’ve always admired his generous use of paint. His brother, Theo provided and sustained his brothers’ need for art supplies. It’s no wonder he could afford to slather the paint on...
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) , that primitive-influenced depressive who abandoned his family for his art,spent nine weeks painting with Vincent in 1888, mooching off Vincent’s brother. It didn’t go so well...


Excerpt from letter dated Feb 1888 from Gauguin to Vincent:
“I left to work in Brittany, (still a rage to paint), and I had good hopes to have funds for that.
The little that I sold served to pay for the few pressing debts and in one month I am going to be without anything. Zero is a negative strength.
I don't want to press your brother, but a little word from you on this topic would calm me, or at least would make me be patient. My god, these questions of money are terrifying for an artist!”

When There's NO Money For Art...what else is new?
Art and commerce have never been comfortable bedfellows. The many art organizations in San Antonio annually vie amongst themselves for city dollars to support there various arty (sometimes farty) endeavors. As always, there is discord and disagreement as to which arts organization gets the most milk from the collective city teat. It is what it is....