Art Bomb-8/15/2014 MoMA Etiquette, Graffitti

john says,

While there is a lot to be written about art, I’d like to take a little bit of time to write about art museum etiquette.  Art museum etiquette in America is practically dead from my point of view.  It used to be that one went into an art museum and experienced the same quiet reverence that was given to lesser places like religious establishments.  This is no longer the case.  Now walking into an art museum is like walking into controlled chaos or a street fair.

Cell Phones and Tablets: Cell Phones and Tablets should be banished from art museums.  I never remember being allowed to take pictures of the art.  But because of the prevalence of these digital infestations museums have given up and slackened their rules.  They’ve allowed for “non-flash” photos to be taken.  Instead of being able to stand in front of Vincent’s van Gogh’s Starry Night or Picasso’s Three Musicians in quiet contemplation, I am now surrounded by dozens of people posing for selfies in front of a work of art.  And don’t even get me started on these kinds of assholes….

SILENCE:  When in the hell did the art museum become a mall?  Cell phone chatter.  Tourists shouting.  Know-it-alls loudly expounded on the history and meaning of each piece of art.  You aren’t a docent Mr. Art Genius, so shut the fuck up.  Kids crying!  I try and try to understand people with children.  But if you’ve taken the time and spent the money to see a Modigliani, why in the hell would you take a screaming and wailing three year-old with you?  You’re just ruining your own experience and the experience of those around you.  Go to the zoo instead.

Bored Kids and Pushy Parents:  Don’t bring older children/teens into an art museum if they don’t want to see art.  There’s nothing worse than walking around an art museum and having to hurdle bored tweens pressed against the wall playing on their cell phones, or dodging a standing teen updating their Facebook status about how much this sucks.  And you pushy parents: maybe it should be enough that you got your kid to acquiesce to the art museum.  But stop interrogating the poor bastard.  Excited mother: And Joeys what painting is this?  Joey (bored tone): Christina’s World.  Mom: And who painted it?  Joey: Andrew Wyeth.  Mom: And what year did he paint it?  Joey:  I don’t know.  Mom:  Joey, I thought we went over this at home.  Joey (shrugging, walking away).  It’s Saturday……leave the kid be.  Let him discover art on his own instead of instantly making him hate it (and you) with this Spanish Inquisition.

Well…I’ve gone on for too long.  Overall, going to an art museum can be an enriching and enlightening experience.  Let’s just get back to a modicum of respect while we’re walking around with the masters.  Right now in NYC at the MoMA there is a fantastic exhibit on the prints of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec that is a must see….provided you can get Randy Newman’s Short People out of your head while you’re walking around it.

Ally says:

“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages.” 
― Banksy, Wall and Piece

I’ve always been a fan of street art. Both living in NYC and traveling in Europe I’ve gotten to see my fair share of it:

Sunset Park Brooklyn 40's 

Sunset Park, Brooklyn 40's

South Slope, Brooklyn 18th 

South Slope Brooklyn 15th St.

Park Slope, Brooklyn 9th St.

London

East London

East London

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austira

When they tore down 5 pointz in Queens, it was a huge loss. We went from this:

To this:

Not really what I would call an improvement.

Probably the most famous of all street artists is Banksy. If you don't know his name, you might recognize his work:

 Seems they think they've found out who Banksy actually is but we'll see if that even sticks.

In the meantime, since his work gets taken down and painted over as quickly as it gets put up, you can always watch Exit Through the Gift Shop. - a great "documentary" about a a French shopkeeper's attempt to befriend the legendary artist.

And remember - not all art hangs on the walls in a museum. And not everything in that museum is really art. I've never really understood why advertising screaming at me from every corner is commerce and accepted, and yet a little piece of art that might make me smile while I'm waiting for the bus, is demonized and illegal.