Gary Miller (gmphotos@earthlink.net)
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 22:12:59 -0800
Remember that not too long ago 'Life' was the most popular magazine in
America. Today it is 'People'.
GM
-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Seigel <jseigel@panix.com>
To: alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca
<alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca>
Date: Sunday, January 31, 1999 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: Sad News
>
>On Sun, 31 Jan 1999, Andy Buck wrote:
>> And while he may be 'unknown', he certainly wasn't in collector's
>> circles: The above mentioned landscapes *sold* (not asked) for
>> $9,000-12,000. And his recent collages, and earlier work, sold for
>> $20,000-30,000. And I am *not* criticizing him or anybody else for
>> asking/paying/whatever. He was a master, an artist, and much more.
>
>In fact, I'm wondering what is so "sad" here -- surely not the news that
>Fredrick Sommer died at the age of 94 (born 1905). True, it reminds of us
>of our own mortality, which is a bummer, but the thought that we might
>have 94 years of productive life and creativity is actually inspiring.
>(Though we won't want to hear that when we're 93, maybe.)
>
>To my surprise, I found that Sommer was NOT in Beaumont Newhall's "The
>History of Photography," or not the 1978 edition. Yet I see so clearly his
>bas relief chicken (from where?, I wonder). Naomi Rosenblum's "World
>History of Photography" reproduces one Sommer, "The Giant," a collage of
>found objects (not one of his best known, I believe).
>
>The sad, very sad, news is, as noted yesterday, US culture & US media are
>so debased they spend all newsprint and airwaves obsessing about imperial
>sex. I was certain the obit would be in today's NY Times. It isn't.
>
>Meanwhile, here is "culture coverage" in our mass media:
>
>Newsweek, which used to have a section called The Arts, has changed that
>to "Arts & Entertainment." Need I say more? Well, I will. This week that
>section lists 2 articles -- Movies: Waiting for 'Star Wars', and Books:
>Three Pros Refurbish the Thriller.
>
>January 18th Newsweek listed in the same "Arts & Entertainment" section,
>Movies: Nick Nolte in His Prime; TV: 60 Minutes Fathers a New Show; Books:
>A Good Black's Charges of Racism; and Music: Ruckus Over Rufus Wainwright.
>
>The only other mainstream news weekly at hand is US News and World Report
>for January 25, 1999. There is no contents page category or article on
>anything relating to any "art form" at all.There is only an item on the
>"Outlook" page about a record price fetched by Betsey Whitney's Cezanne at
>auction.
>
>And lest our continental and overseas friends be less than heartsick at
>our disgrace -- smirk not, friends. You'll get there too. Not as bad
>maybe, but bad enough.
>
>Judy
>
>
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