Interesting Article: Why the Art World Is So Loathsome

This is considered a major work of art now. When Michelangelo painted the ceiling, it was his day job.

A friend posted a link to this article on Facebook and I thought it was very interesting.

Basically it takes on the current state of 'contemporary art' and one of its big shows called Art Basel Miami where rich people waste their money on their supposedly valuable art collections.

My favorite quote:

"4. The post-skill movement.

“No major figure of profound influence has emerged in painting or sculpture since the waning of Pop Art and the birth of Minimalism in the early 1970s,” writes Camille P. But what about those annoying YBAs, the young British artists, the folks that noted U.K.-based art critic Brian Sewell has wickedly and accurately dubbed “The Post-Skill Movement”? Are they profound or influential?"

 Post skill movement? There are tons of skilled artists in the world making a living.

They are usually called illustrators.

This world has pretty much ignored them at best. Art history texts ignore artists like Howard Pyle, Norman Rockwell, Frank Frazetta and many others. At some point they were disconnected from the art world as not worthy.

The article also says that school churn out those with no skills. Perhaps that is true but there are are also mane schools and workshops that do teach hard core fundamentals. There is a growing movement of Atelier programs that focus on the nuts and bolts of creating good images.

I think things are starting to change and these artists will be honored in retrospect.

People who illustrate for books, magazines, comics, video games, animation, etc. represent the true contemporary art because it is the everyday imagery that reflects what is happening in culture and society. They are the current artisans similar to those that painted the cathedrals and baptistries in the Renaissance.

At some point in the early 20th century, it was decided that 'art' is not a craft that is practiced by a skilled artisan like a carpenter, but something else.  

The article is here:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/doonan/2012/11/art_basel_why_i_m_not_going_hint_it_s_because_the_modern_art_world_is_the.html
Interesting note: I saw the Victorian Painting Exhibit at the Frick in NYC many years ago and have the book. It is a step in the right direction that the book is mentioned.