What is art is a loaded question. Just those 3 words and a piece of punctuation can cause such extreme discourse about something so small (the phrase not art itself). From my standpoint it seemed so much easier to distinguish art centuries ago as works from Picasso, Rembrandt, Matisse, etc. seemed to be recognized as creating art in their time. They painted stuff, it looked like something (mostly) and people called it art. Though occasionally it took some time for painters to get recognized--see Van Gogh. But for the most part, folks with talent seemed to shine bright and be exalted or whatever. Then along came Duchamp and his "Fountain"--which was really a recreation of a pissoir--and turned everything on it's head about what is considered art. And from what I can gather, that was his intention. Ugh...reading about all of it was enough to leave me confused (not all that hard) and interested enough to want figure out what was the what. I remember (decades ago) taking a class in college about the philosophy of art. At the time I saw it as an easy grade (was kind of right on that--got a B+) but I was interested to see if it could shed some light on making sense of the modern stuff that just didn't seem like art, at least to me.
After a full semester of talking about stuff that seemed to go round in circles and ended with a final exam consisting of 2 parts (1. write a final exam; 2. now take it--yes that was it I kid you not) everything seemed to boil down to two things: art is what you like and art is something that can evoke a reaction. I was happy for the grade though a bit exasperated with answers that seemed both too simple and too broad. At least I didn't have to buy a big expensive textbook for the class or read Foucault or Kierkegaard. So for my frame of reference going forward I just decided that art, for me, would be what I liked, and just because I don't like something doesn't mean it isn't art to someone else. Ahhh...the joys of a higher education (and ten years of loan payments).
So what's my point? Eh...I guess I don't really have one but all these thoughts came back to me one day as I was walking down the street and passed Gallery 16 who were having a showing of Rex Ray. I like his stuff, it's all very funky mid-century modern, if I could afford it I'd probably buy some.
But what is it about his work I like? For me I'd say colors, shapes and design. Ray is graphic designer whose work gained a following and appreciation from both mainstream and the art world. One glance and they look so simple but when you look up close the stuff they are intricate collages of mixed media--paint, paper, linen, varnish, etc.--that are very detailed and specific. And I guess it's this collision of elements that, for whatever reason, appeals to me. That plus being a bit of mid-century junkie also makes it interesting visually to my senses. Though I'm sure he's not for everyone, I mean most artists aren't. I used to work at one of the museums in the city and I saw any number of things pass through the hallways that just made me roll my eyes (Robert Gober comes to mind particularly the pencil 'sketches'). But even so, whatever came through always had someone who appreciated it as art. And I guess that even though I wasn't a fan, the work did create some visceral reaction in me (mostly revulsion) which made it fit one of the philosophy or art rules I learned--it evoked a feeling in me and someone else liked it--then I guess it must be art--right? I'll guess the same can be said about Rex Ray, I really like his stuff and honestly just wrote all this so I could have a reason to share some photos I took of the stuff. Below are a few more images and the rest can be viewed here. Hopefully you can enjoy and appreciate his stuff like I do, and if you don't, well that's okay too, some art isn't for everyone.
After a full semester of talking about stuff that seemed to go round in circles and ended with a final exam consisting of 2 parts (1. write a final exam; 2. now take it--yes that was it I kid you not) everything seemed to boil down to two things: art is what you like and art is something that can evoke a reaction. I was happy for the grade though a bit exasperated with answers that seemed both too simple and too broad. At least I didn't have to buy a big expensive textbook for the class or read Foucault or Kierkegaard. So for my frame of reference going forward I just decided that art, for me, would be what I liked, and just because I don't like something doesn't mean it isn't art to someone else. Ahhh...the joys of a higher education (and ten years of loan payments).
So what's my point? Eh...I guess I don't really have one but all these thoughts came back to me one day as I was walking down the street and passed Gallery 16 who were having a showing of Rex Ray. I like his stuff, it's all very funky mid-century modern, if I could afford it I'd probably buy some.
But what is it about his work I like? For me I'd say colors, shapes and design. Ray is graphic designer whose work gained a following and appreciation from both mainstream and the art world. One glance and they look so simple but when you look up close the stuff they are intricate collages of mixed media--paint, paper, linen, varnish, etc.--that are very detailed and specific. And I guess it's this collision of elements that, for whatever reason, appeals to me. That plus being a bit of mid-century junkie also makes it interesting visually to my senses. Though I'm sure he's not for everyone, I mean most artists aren't. I used to work at one of the museums in the city and I saw any number of things pass through the hallways that just made me roll my eyes (Robert Gober comes to mind particularly the pencil 'sketches'). But even so, whatever came through always had someone who appreciated it as art. And I guess that even though I wasn't a fan, the work did create some visceral reaction in me (mostly revulsion) which made it fit one of the philosophy or art rules I learned--it evoked a feeling in me and someone else liked it--then I guess it must be art--right? I'll guess the same can be said about Rex Ray, I really like his stuff and honestly just wrote all this so I could have a reason to share some photos I took of the stuff. Below are a few more images and the rest can be viewed here. Hopefully you can enjoy and appreciate his stuff like I do, and if you don't, well that's okay too, some art isn't for everyone.
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