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PREFACE
Art today is still valuable yet misunderstood. I am surprised that much of the public ignore it completely. Antiquated thinking concludes that it is either foolish or only for the rich... as stated by Van Gogh over one hundred years ago. Not much has changed in this attitude toward art since then. Viewers are often given very good reasons to be confused and frustrated. Even artists can be unaware of the value of art, often placing it in the realm of the sublime. Then there are the investors in art who treat it solely as a commodity to be sold without soul.
I have found kindred spirits such as Rudolf Arnheim, a psychologist who has noted a skepticism by artists of both psychology and of the printed word (which I agree exists, but do not share). Thomas Albright, an art critic, gives us a shot of virtual reality, shaving with a straight razor on an early cold morning. Robert Henri, educator and artist, talks about being a master at the art of life. Chipp's 'Theories of Modern Art', (With Contributions by Peter Selz and Joshua C. Taylor) gives a wealth of artist's comments and notes, and is truly ' A Source Book by Artists and Critics '.
Few artists have written about art. I have read different opinions than mine and many intellectuals' writings that I suspect are not understood by any of us. There are some artists' writings that make sense. Perhaps it is their humanness and sense of mortality that sets Picasso, Matisse, Miro, and Van Gogh apart.
There are three different actualities in my book. The first is my personal opinions standing on their own. The second is my own conclusions supported by others. The third is where other people's writings switched on circuits of ideas I had not thought of. These I have given to you in full without comment. An example is Michael Sullivan's essay on the dialectics of art, or Henri's writing on surfaces.
Art used to be an integral and valued part of man's life. It was no more or less, than it should have been. Art has been lost to many people today, for different reasons. This is paradoxical in a world covered in art. Yet, there is mounting evidence that will support this.
Many of us are asking the question "If art has any value other than on the auction block, or on the drafting and design tables." What is it? |
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1.00 Preface
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Copyright: Sharon Christian, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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