a few new paintings

a few new prints

well

All this art talk is really not important when it comes down to it. Art does good things for us but, there are more important things that no amount of art could replace.

mer

There's some talk of art starting in the Spori building as of late. The Fine Arts program is growing- there's a handful of part time faculty to keep up with crowded classes and no lack of snobbery among us. Compitition is a big part of art, professionaly and in school, and BYUI is not free from it. It starts of course with our faculty. The Parson camp is led by Leon Parson, a very skilled illustrator and wildlife painter. He hired for a faculty a confident crew of Art Center students to lead the cause of studying realism. The outsiders are those that somehow got hired without being Field and Stream illustrators or so righteous they glow. They mainly snuck in either as technical or "crafts" people (pottery, printmaking), or because they've just been here forever (a few painters and a sculptor). So we are just starting to get the great art school rift that shouldn't exist but always does- the one between craft and concept. Fruitbaskets and figures on one side, expression on the other. Anyway, they are both needed. Here's the thing- "What is art" is almost a question. Is it more than this, or less than this? What element of a visual makes it good? Or interesting? Merely accuracy? Merely emotion or expression? Merely spirituality? Merely formalist construction? The Frame? Easiness? Does it match my couch? Is it really better than the wall? Is pretty ugly? Is it scarry? Is it peaceful? Would Bob Ross like it? Would Jesus like it? Would a little kid like it? Would it burn quickly? Does anyone like it besides me? Is it merely therapy? Is negitive art a reflection of a bad person? Should art cause joy? Is it archival? Who really cares about Art Center?

Kim

Kim and I went hiking back in November I think it was. We were looking for an old miners cabin. We didn't find it unfortunitly.

Obama problem

He isn't the problem as much as the American media and pop-culture all out adoration of him is. It's a clear formula: When the Kennedys, mass media, Al Gore, Hollywood, and France all worship the same man- some sort of red flag should go up. Aristotle said long ago that it is human nature to need to worship, and it can also be said that group worship is innate; but he was hoping we'd save that for diety. Our spite and reverence are too easily bought. Lets go about this Obama thing with our heads on. Go to church if you want something sacred.

some recent monoprints

What's here

The heavy boughs, the burnished dove
That moans and sighs a hundred days:
How when we die our shades will rove,
When eve has hushed the feathered ways-

WB Yeats

old things