Posted on 03/22/2007 11:08:43 AM PDT by Dan Evans
BEND OVER ATLANTA
OK .. here's the way it works:
Steve learns to weld.
Steve would rather be an artist than working in a machine shop
Steve obtains some scrap metal and starts welding it together in odd shapes which he declares to be art.
Steve can't find anyone who will voluntarily pay for the piles of scrap metal he has welded together.
Steve changes his name to Stephano and drops his last name.
Still nobody will buy Stephano's art, though there is one Buckhead matron who has taken a rather prurient interest in some of Stephan's other talents.
The Buckhead matron allows Stephano to place a pile of scrap metal in her garden and begins to refer to it as a sculpture.
Buckhead socialites, after encountering Stephano's "sculpture", and desiring to pander to the matron's artistic tastes, decide that Stephan is being greatly wronged because nobody will pay him for his artistic efforts.
The buzz among the Buckhead social set is heard in the halls of the Atlanta City Council and the arts community.
A sense of anger builds that we have yet another artist in our midst who simply cannot manage to find a willing buyer in a free market environment.
The arts community -- which, by the way, won't buy any of Stephano's art either -- tells Atlanta's political leaders that Atlanta simply cannot survive or be considered a world class international city unless Stephano's "art" is displayed citywide.
A plan is hatched to use the police power of the Atlanta city government to fund the purchase of Stephano's piles of junk.
The city seizes money from residents and writes some fat checks to Stephano for more artwork.
Stephano, no longer needing to service the needs of the Buckhead matron, tells her to find another cabana boy.
(Excerpt) Read more at boortz.com ...
How dare you besmirch my god-given talent to weld! *SMIRK *
Must have art. Oink!
One reason I moved out of Atlanta proper.
I bent over enough for Maynard Jackson and Bill Campbell.
Such art, I could make.
Hey! I lived in the building pictured there for 4 years and had to walk past that piece of junk every day. Occasionally my dorm-mates would festoon it with various things, but nothing could make it look good.
Did you go to MIT too?
Dogs playing poker. Now THAT's Art!
No, I went to Harvard. That particular sculpture is by Louise Nevelson, who actually did pretty well for herself. But frankly they all look pretty much the same.
Unfortunately, there are the same kinds of junk sitting around in yards in the Chapel Hill area, too. Fortunately, none of the local hemp-thumpers have hit upon the idea of getting the gov't to pay them for it yet.
The only saving grace is that as metals become more valuable with the rise in commodity prices, many of these statues will probably find new uses.
Perhaps this will be the long-term solution to the problem of Modern Art.
From NPR:
Weekend Edition Sunday, March 4, 2007 · Artist John Waddell was shocked when eight of his massive sculptures went missing last month.
The larger-than-life bronze figures, weighing at least 3,000 pounds, were stolen from his ranch in Sedona, Ariz.
Known as "industrial looting," Waddell is the latest victim in a series of crimes targeting high-profile sculptors.
Waddell, 86, suspects the thieves stole the pieces for their copper. The metal retains as much as 90 percent of its value when it is melted down.
The pieces, known collectively as The Gathering, are worth more than $500,000 as art. Waddell believes the metal alone isn't worth more than $5,000.
Remaining sculptures in the series have been relocated next to the sculptor's house. A locked gate will soon surround the property.
Waddell plans to continue creating art for public display. But the last few weeks have left him pondering his legacy.
Related NPR Stories
Dec. 29, 2006
Prized Sculptures Survive Katrina, Stolen by Thieves
Feb. 28, 2007
Picasso Works Stolen from Relative's House
Nov. 5, 2005
The Hunt for Stolen Art
March 12, 2005
Documentary 'Stolen' Tracks Search for Lost Art
Dec. 2, 2004
Art Detectives Recover Lost Masterpieces
Aug. 24, 2004
Art Theft: 'The Scream' Stolen, Again
Anyone who has ever had legal dealings with the "art" community knows they are all a bunch of sleazeballs. I'll take some crooked boxing promoters any day.
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Maybe the sculptor should start a Reality TV Show, or better yet, say that his artwork is an expression of "GLOBAL WARMING", and he shouldn't have any trouble finding Federal Funding.
ping
Art For Arts Sake
10CC
lyrics
Gimme your body
Gimme your mind
Open your heart
Pull down the blind
Gimme your love gimme it all
Gimme in the kitchen gimme in the hall
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Gimme the readys
Gimme the cash
Gimme a bullet
Gimme a smash
Gimme a silver gimme a gold
Make it a million for when I get old
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Money talks so listen to it
Money talks to me
Anyone can understand it
Money cant be beat oh no
When you get down, down to the root
Dont give a damn dont give a hoot
Still gotta keep makin the loot
Chauffeur driven
Gotta make her quick as you can
Give her lovin make you a man
Get her in the palm of your hand
Bread from heaven
Gimme a country
Where I can be free
Dont need the unions
Strangling me
Keep me in exile the rest of my days
Burn me in hell but as long as it pays
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Art for arts sake
Money for gods sake
Think that picture is big enough? LOL!
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