It's Art If the Artist Says So, And You Can Too
Click on image to view enlarged.The really scary thing is that this isn't in the least far-fetched. A New York Times article last week featured an artist named Ingrid Calame, whose latest obsession, after a career forged by tracing stains and calling it art, is capturing the skid marks made by racecar drivers on the track at the Indianapolis Speedway. Her work is being shown right now at a high-end Soho gallery. I'm conflicted about this. On the one hand, I appreciate pushing the limits of what we understand and accept as art. I love the work of Cristo and Jean-Claude, and when I think of the Sistine Chapel, little rectangles of pretty landscapes or abstract splotches hung over sofas seems somehow silly to me. On the other hand, if Ms. Calame is going to push the idea that skidmarks on pavement is art, the least she could do is make them her own skidmarks.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:03 AM
5 Comments:
This isn't too much different than what we photographers do. We find patterns in nature or in man-made accidental patterns, take a photo and by various editing actions, call it our own 'art'. Perhaps we aren't as pretentious, but still!
I love the title! I have always wavered about calling myself an artist. But, I do draw and paint.Roger
While one man's trash is another man's treasure... there will be someone out there for every awful bit of art ever created. It's not how good it is... it's how well it's promoted. That's all.
>>... if Ms. Calame is going to push the idea that skidmarks on pavement is art, the least she could do is make them her own skidmarks.<<
Are we not asking too much? Were Warhol's soup cans his own? At least Ms. Calame is going to the scene of the accident.
il professore, you have done it again, always a joy to read your comment.
Want to know what the name of the gallery is that Mr. T. always cons into taking his paintings. I have a few that I would like to send there. (grin) Second only to Jeremy in my opinion.
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