In our continued attempts to bring you closer to what is happening in representational art in America we welcome you to our art forum. We also encourage you to visit the What's New page at the Tree's Place website.
The exceptional realist, measures himself against the masters of the past in order to develop the necessary skills to better express himself as master of his own art. It is by the study of the past and the exposure to ingenuity that strengthens artistic character. It is my opinion that the most talented of today's realists are not just creating a topographical account of the world we live in, but present the figure, landscape and still life with subjective undertones for today that are unique to the artist, the subject and the viewer.
It is my hope that there will be a renewed sensibility towards acquiring exceptional representational art in our national museums and institutions. There is an unmistakable beauty and truth that continues to underscore the most ordinary of life, it lives within the consideration, understanding and interpretation of the world we live, this type of depth has survived tens of centuries and continues to the present.
Sadly as our artistic world has grown over the centuries it has also become divided. I do not understand why someone would want to see shapes organized in a way that distort the world that we live in or to be told that something is because "I" say it is that way. I am a protagonist of how things look in the natural world. I believe that there is a natural order. Now I am not a painter but I am captivated by the capabilities of the classically trained painter. The most knowledgeable of our modern realists can elevate an object into a subjective naturalistic view that is so absolutely riveting that you can't imagine that it can be done. It is beautiful at face value and if you care, it is beautiful for its transcendent underpinnings. It is not an easy job to render truth, and for those that do, in an exceptional way, they deserve the merit of being accepted into our museums.
Students that choose to become classical realist painters today (because that is who they are) should have the opportunity to seek the best of modern classical realism in the context of its rich historical past. With that being said, modern realism should hang within the realm of the masters of the past in our institutions. Today's art students will therefore have the opportunity to examine the continuum of classical art into our present day. The representational gallery has become the "learning institution" in place of the national museum. Many students come to Tree's Place to study the great paintings that are on exhibit. I guess that that is OK but I know that it is not satisfactory.
I challenge our nations acquisition committees that they might leave their offices and headhunt our galleries in search of great representational painters. It is not enough to rely on donations and bequeathed works. It is unacceptable to think that a gifted contemporary realistic work of art might find way to an auction house in order to provide funds to purchase a conceptual work of art, based on the interests of a committee. Within this chasm of diversity dwells the misunderstood notion that representational art is not as modern, viable, or important of an artistic expression as the abstract.
I disagree.
-Alison Collins
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You are right to want modern realism to hang with the realism of the past in the museums rather than it being hung according to chronology. Chronologically categorizing realism intersperses it with abstract painting. When abstract painting came out it's primary goal was to completely break with the realists. In fact, when abstraction came out, there was an antagonistic attitude towards the realists. They had to denigrate realism in order to justify abstraction. This was a mistake because other than the most rudimentary aspects, the two forms of art have nothing in common. Why should they now be lumped together in the same department. I think modern realism should be connected with the realism of the past so it can be viewed in its proper context. It is part of a chain knowledge and the philosophy of art that goes back to the Lascaux caves and beyond. Abstraction forks off this but is not really part of the chain. I think the abstract art should hang in a separate part of the museum...but then nobody would go there. (tweak)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. And we could call that part of the museum "the alley out back where problems are solved twice a week". Abstraction, after all is merely one of a host of techniques that a modern artist must understand, possess and move beyond. And I emphasize the term "modern artist" since that term as much as any other needs to be brought back into the warm light of realism from which it slipped away briefly.
ReplyDeleteThis does not address at all your commentary, but indeed does address
ReplyDeleteyour fine gallery. Some years ago, as guest of a homeowner there in your fair town, we visited your shop and I was totally in awe of the quality of content there.
It was amazing to find such a great diversity of subject matter for sale.
We spent a lengthy time there and examined all the art and other objects for sale. For years, I yearned to return.
Now I have come upon your marvelous web site and find I can see much
of the art you now offer. As a consumer, it feeds my soul, and as an Interior Designer, it offers me a great selection to offer to my clients.
While in the area, I was taken by my hosts to meet the renown artist, Curtis Rosser. He was kind enough to invite us into his studio, along with a private tour. While there, I purchased many of his watercolors.
At that time, I believe you represented his works. As he is now deceased, I am wondering if you still do?
Blue Harris
great article! wonderful insights! thank you!
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