[neverdem]

Since the "National Institute on Aging held a conference in Alexandria, Va., last year to allow researchers to compare notes on Alzheimer's and artistic activity," taxpayer funded activities do not belong in "Chat"! We'll see what the admin mods do.

Now I understand the reason for modern art. In case your not familiar with Jackson Pollack, here's one of his paintings.

[dangus]

What does Jackson Pollack have to do with this story?

[MineralMan]

Well, that isn't really one of his paintings. It's a postage-stamp sized thumbnail digital photo of the painting. Can't see much there.

Have you seen the actual painting? I have. I was quite impressed by it. Different tastes, I guess.

[martin_fierro]

Nobody's ugly after 2 am.

[Lady Jag]

This is fascinating.

[giotto]

the effects of the tours are often striking and seem to speak - in a world of reproduction - to the power of the original.

There is much to ponder in this sentence. A painting--any painting--has a presence that no reproduction can have. Every brush stroke is a moment frozen in time. Surrounded by flickering images on computer screens, TV's and cellphones, a spot of pigment on a surface, deliberately placed there decades or centuries ago, can be a powerful gesture of hope. Maybe that's what the patients are responding to.