Alma Woodsey Thomas, Watusi (Hard Edge), 1963, acrylic on canvas, 47-5/8" x 44-1/4", Hirshhorn MuseumI was spending some time catching up on my "movers and shakers" art blogs (it keeps me all worldly and informed and some such stuff) and found that I had missed out on all the foolishness regarding one painting, of two, by Alma Thomas, that was...then wasn't, going to be on loan to the White House in Michelle Obama's office (surely, the grammar police will be after me because of that sentence-ish...well. probably most of the sentences-ish, in this entire post...the whole blog, if we want to be real about it).
It started with Edward Winkleman's blog, which I adore because it is so much fun, info and sass about the art world I never want to be a part of (did you know you that you, kind reader, may pick and choose your "art world"...yes you can!) Then, I started linking around the links (Winkleman's links , the links of his links, the links of their links and on and on...) and concretely decided that the entire controversy was a waste of time. A waste, first of all, because all artists appropriate whether they realize it or not, or admit it or not (and most will never ever admit it, because the unwritten rule is that if you "copy" or "mimic" or the more fancy-schmancy term "appropriate" in some form then you aren't creative...not really...and all the other artists in the super secret and special artists club know it, even if they don't say it to your face...dead or alive...they talk about you in a super secret code language, in a super secret and special artists club location where only those who generate concepts and imagery without any other reference are allowed). Honestly, I was so depressed (not), knowing I would be kicked out of the secret club when I realized that my pod/icon symbol looked just like an oak leaf (and who else besides me has seen one of those, hmmm?), and a Matisse oak leaf, at that. My creativity was doomed from then on. Or perhaps it was doomed when I started making a circle. I'm not sure anymore.
The second reason I find the controversy to be a waste of time is...Come on...do I really need to list another one? I do have a second one, though. If they say the painting didn't fit the spot or hung funny, then just take it for what it is. Geez, as we say here in the stix.
Now, what would a good quilter do in this situation? The obvious answer is, copy Watusi and make an art quilt out of it. Don't think I won't. I think we all should.
5 comments:
Well, well, well now the Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun. And surely you or I have never thought of any thing hardly that someone else has not thought whether published or not.
You know, it wasn't until Melody said something very similar to this on her blog that I realized that it was ok...I honestly thought than REAL artists only did ORIGINAL work! So, thanks for saying this again, it totally bears being brought out into the light of day again...and again...
And - toot toot! have you seen my new site? SO exciting! Make sure to enter the giveaway, I'm thinking you might like one of my scarves!
While the commentors on Winkleman's blog is entertaining, I'd be much more interested in knowing Thomas' take on the piece...
are entertaining...speaking of grammar policing....
Hi Sonji,
Liking your post about this subject.
If I remember rightly Matisse got some of his inspiration from African art, that was considered primitive. So, your pod/icon symbol has a long history. Besides Picasso appropriated Braque, or Braque appropriated Picasso, even the art historians don't really know for sure. Why do people feel the need to diminish someone's creativity?
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