For the Love of Art

I have just put up the essay I wrote than earned me a letter of denial to the Art Institute of Chicago's Art History Masters Program. We must have mutually decided that we weren't right for each other, because shortly after writing this paper, I stopped believing in Art. I think there are things in the world. That I am almost certain of, but I think art is just a game. The things under that banner that have enamored me in the past are of a different sort. So I didn't get into the Art Institute, Boo-Hoo. Saved my ass a hell of a lot of money, and probably hypertension, and it opened up the doors for me to get interested in the programming racket, which I think is fascinating, so Yee-Haw.

But anyway, I did write a damn long (if not necessarily good, although I am still relatively proud of it, you make the call) essay. Here is a link, and the opening paragraphs:

On the 23rd of November 1977 Ruth Van Herpen, a visitor in a gallery in Oxford England, compelled in such a way by a painting by the American Minimalist artist Jo Baer, pursed her lips, leaned forward, and kissed the canvas, leaving a stamp of her lipstick on the previously white surface. She was apprehended without a fuss and fined by the gallery. Her defense: “The work looked so cold, I only kissed it to cheer it up.” (Gamboni).

July 19 2007 a nearly identical incident occurred at a gallery in Avignon France; another white monochrome canvas by another artist, the American born Abstractionist Cy Twombly and a woman by the name of Sam Rindy. Rindy claimed that she was “overcome with passion” and that her lipstick “improved the white painting” adding that she believed “the canvas had been left white for her.” She maintains that “the gesture was an artistic act provoked by the power of art.” (BBC).

For the Love of Art