A director of a large, local, public gallery said that he had to admit that a lot of people visiting the gallery, spent more time looking at the labels than they did looking at the art. I commented that perhaps this was a reflection on the art.




"It is often said `the public does not appreciate art!' Perhaps the public is dull, but there is just the possibility that we are also dull, and that if there were more motive, wit, human philosophy, or other evidences of interesting personality in our work the call might be stronger. A public which likes to hear something worth while when you talk would like to understand something worth while when it sees pictures." (141)
Robert Henri




"... the most pernicious aspect of mediocrity: it works to level, to numb the sensibilities in a way that abject awfulness - which can be stimulating, in a perverse way - does not." (142)
Thomas Albright





140. Robert Henri, The Art Spirit, (Toronto, Canada, Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd., 1984), p. 103
141. ibid., p. 103
142. Thomas Albright, On Art and Artists, (U.S.A., The Chronicle Publishing Co., 1989), p.p. 168, 169