terryroth (terryroth@earthlink.net)
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 20:25:47 -0800
Judy Seigel wrote:
>
> 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
right on. Mainstream publications have never been on point.
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