July 6, 2008
Rooney: When Did This Become Art?
Andy Rooney On Modern Art In Public Places
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When Did This Become Art?
In his weekly opinion piece, Andy Rooney shares his views on public art.
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Andy Rooney has some thoughts about modern art being put up in public places across America. (CBS/60 Minutes)
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I don’t like most of the stuff passing for art and it's everywhere -- including this work from Providence, R.I. (CBS/60 Minutes)
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The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by correspondent Andy Rooney.
There are a lot of know-nothing boobs who don’t appreciate the modern art being put up in public places in our cities.
I know this is true because I’m one of those know-nothing boobs. When did bright-colored plastic cows, pigs and rabbits get to be art?
I don’t like most of the stuff passing for art and it's everywhere.
Seattle. Chicago. Sure, Chicago. Hog butcher to the world.
San Diego. Bloomington, Ill., for goodness sake!
Cincinnati. The people looking were better looking than what they were looking at.
Kansas City. Washington D.C. It makes as much sense as the politicians.
Plainview, Texas. Another culture center. Providence, R.I.
Memphis, Tenn. This was done to honor Martin Luther King. It's called "I've Been To The Mountain." I'm an admirer of everything Martin Luther King stood for, but I don't think he would have stood for this.
In New York, Lincoln Center has the best opera, the best ballet, and the best symphony orchestra. Is this Mickey Mouse sculpture out front really in an artistic league with what goes on inside?
One piece is named "Two Indeterminate Lines." I may not understand art, but I understand the English language, and that's pretentious nonsense.
Does every open space have to be filled in? Is anything better looking than nothing would be? I don’t think so.
Sculptor Richard Serra's work called "Tilted Arc" was put up at a cost of $175,000. It's a leaning slab of rusting metal.
There was a war in New York between people who hated it and people who accused them of being culturally deprived. "Tilted Arc" was taken down, cut in three pieces and stored. Take that, arty arc.
A writer ought to be able to write simple sentences before he tries to be a poet. I want to see something traditional that a sculptor has done - something I can understand - before he gets a license to do this.
Picasso earned the right to do anything he wants. His work is art whether I think so or not.
Whoever did one particular painting suffers either from a functional disorder of the mind or he's putting us on.
What beneficial effect does this have on our brains that makes it worth putting in a public place?
I understand perfectly well that good art is always ahead of public taste. Most of this stuff is certainly ahead of my taste. I don’t like it. If I’m wrong, I’m sure you’ll correct me.
By Andy Rooney © MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 76 Commentsart movement - a group of artists who agree on general principles
I applaud you tonight in saying the same thing about this so called "art" which is nothing but trash. You are one in a million and I am with you 100%. It is nothing but junk!
Blessings - Gary Ledford
Thank you for your commentary about art. I represent an artist named Quinn Stilletto who has lived the stereotypic life of an artist in all of its absurdity. We both have always maintained that, as an artist, one must prove that he or she can follow the rules before he or she breaks them. Moreover, the art world in America, is like "The Emperor''s New Clothes," in that, if the ''right'' person deems an artist''s work the next big thing, it becomes just that regardless of the merit of the work. If you have a moment, please check out Quinn''s website at www.quinnstilletto.com. Please take a moment to read the discussions that accompany each piece--unlike many artists, Stilletto is able and willing to articulate the connection between the inspiration for a piece and the work itself. Please also read his blog on the state of art in America entitled, "Evaluation of Congestive Art Failure." Thank you.
Lynn Labes
However, modern and post-modern art is a direct response to the art world and it communicates more than the restraints of classicist art could have ever achieved. People tend to think you have to draw perfectly in order to be an artist - this is not the case. It is a medium of EXPRESSION. And yes, those abstract sculptures were never meant for people like Andy and his like to understand. They are vehicles for artists talking to other artists, or to those who understand the meanings behind them. Don''t like it? Fine. But don''t critique it without any background knowledge first.
And, Andy, never, ever, pronounce "Picasso" that way again.
And, our opinion on "art" concurs with my opinion on lousic vs. music. (There''s no word to describe lousy music without putting quote marks around "music" per se - so I coined the word lousic.)
The painted animals are great community pieces. I used to live in a town where they had them except they were cats, and there was different stories behind every painted sculpture, and different takes on creativity. It was always a joy seeing them and I don''t see why they''re a problem.
Two, "Tilted Arc" is more than just a leaning slab of metal. If you would''ve noticed the aerial shot, it was breaking up a space that looked like a spiral. The artist was experimenting with space and openness. It goes farther than the piece itself. This is why people need to think outside the box when they see something like "Tilted Arc" because it''s not "JUST" a slab of metal. Open your minds, people.
Also, many artists (such as Picasso whose name Andy butchered) start out as, yes, classicists, but they realize how confined that form of expression is (to please the masses, essentially), they move onto more expressionistic and abstract forms that most people don''t "get." However, I think that is an evolution, and abstract work is more interesting than a perfectly sculpted nude.
You took the words right out of my mouth. I am with you all the way. I think they should melt all these garbage and donate the proceeds to a third world country. They should also evalute the artist to make sure he or she is sane.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the public art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the public art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
I didn''t particularly like the tie you wore during the art critic diatribe broadcast. In fact, the colors clashed and it was downright ugly. But you like it and wear it in public, so I guess it''s OK. Kind of like the way art works. One persons view of "nice to look at" does not always mean that others share that view.
As you also failed to mention, Picasso was not critically acclaimed when he created his cubist work initially. It took time.
Also, as you failed to mention..many, many classical artists like Van Gogh died penniless. So the very success of the public art you panned clearly has someone who likes it and pays for it.. Just like your sponsors do.
Go figure.
Nothing has been more restricting and debilitating than the theories of modernism, which eliminated these tools, along with the skills to employ them. We are providing a forum for artists, scholars, collectors and the public to appreciate great art, and to recognize that they''re not alone in their suspicions about the emptiness of modern and postmodern art. These suspicions are fully justified by the overwhelming body of evidence and historical facts."
http://www.artrenewal.org/
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