Boy Sticks Gum On $1.5 Million Painting At Museum

WFTV-NEWS ^ | 2-28-2006

[Ditter]

Is this a before picture? Maybe the new spot improved it.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I'm guessing they're calling that a painting because there's paint on it.

[Republicanprofessor]

Okay, thanks to Cloud8's suggestion, here's a little background to the painting.

First of all, it is large. So that the blue shape of a bay does not compare (visually) to the bubble gum the way you guys are joking.

Secondly, the connection to Pollock is not that far fetched. Frankenthaler knew Pollock, thanks to Clement Greenberg, the critic who supported Pollock. There is a woman playing Frankenthaler in a small part in Ed Harris's movie of Pollock (a very good movie, by the way).

So Frankenthaler tried to extend the dripping technique of Pollock. And she was Greenberg's girlfriend for about 5 years. When they came back from a vacation in Nova Scotia, she created the first stained painting: Mountains and Sea.

Then when some of Greenberg's pals were visiting, he showed them her work. Then Ken Noland and Morris Louis went back to D.C. and began the whole color field movement. Greenberg, and Michael Fried, and other critics wrote volumes about their work. But they never mentioned Frankenthaler, who started it all. Was that because she was a woman, Greenberg's squeeze, or wealthy enough not to need the attention?

There is supposed to be a great deal of talent to pour the paint into such little stripes as did Morris, on the right. But the center is so empty. Seems rather revealing to me. The lower stories of Empire Plaza in Albany, NY are filled with works like this, quite hot, no doubt, when it was built. They seem very blank and depressing to me now (or when I saw them a couple of decades ago).

Well, the upshot is that after 40 years, the color field stuff looks pretty shallow to many. Critically, it was acclaimed back in the '60s because the stain was one with the canvas, the bare essentials of painting (the picture plane, he stretcher, the flatness, etc.) were all emphasized.

The cool thing, to me, is that Frankenthaler's work looks a great deal richer than Noland's or Louis's. It has curving references to nature that beat the "targets" of Noland.

I do find Frankenthaler's Spiritualist quite spiritual because of the light and the floating shapes. But in these little pixels, it doesn't affect me the way the much larger work does in person.

[Republicanprofessor]

By the way, my kids when they were 3-4 years old would not have dared to touch artworks in a museum. Of course, they've been going to museums almost since they were born. But if my eldest, at 12, had done so.....I can't think how grounded he'd be for life for the bubble gum incident.

Just another example of the prevalent lack of respect in our society....

[Atlas Sneezed]

I like the painting. You are all philistines.

I really like abstract expressionism. Not that I don't like a nice Renoir.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

When I was 12, I may not have appreciated the monetary value of the painting, but I would have known putting gum on it was wrong.

That being said, I had a had a tendency to do stupid things when I was younger, maybe not that stupid, but stupid, nonetheless. I just did not think.

My father would get so mad at me...
"Why did you do it?"
"I dunno.."
The truth was, I did not know. Sort of an "I am therefore, I do" type of thing.

I pretty much grew out of it by the 6th grade.

The story has an ending which gives rise to hope....

"....Holly Academy director Julie Kildee said the boy had been suspended from the charter school and said his parents also have disciplined him.

"Even though we give very strict guidelines on proper behavior and we hold students to high standards, he is only 12 and I don't think he understood the ramifications of what he did before it happened, but he certainly understands the severity of it now," said Kildee....."

Disciplined at school by the Academy Director
Disciplined at home by parents

I am sure there is a bit of hell to pay yet, to the school, to his parents and to the museum.

Works for me.

[aculeus]

B U B B L E G U M A R T

Some times an artists' ideas can venture beyond the possible. Artistic vision is frequently the real "mother of invention."

Michaelangelo, is it said, had a special recipe for the blue pigments. He was not satisfied with the blue that other artists were using and so spent considerable time exploring rare minerals for their color. His recipe obviously worked very well and the ingredients are still a mystery. Leonardo DaVinci "accidentally" instigated the formal study of anatomy in his attempts to draw the perfect human form. And so it is with artist, Sherbadojay, whose quest for brighter colors and a media that had texture has led him around the world seeking his color palette in ordinary chewing gum.

More ...

http://www.viewzone.com/gum.html

[verity]

I was not commenting about the boy's action which, of course, was totally inappropriate. Instead I was commenting about the absurd value of the paint splotch. OK?

[cubreporter]

OK...now I understand. Thank you.

[kanawa]

Storm Warning to the Art World: Everything is going to Change!

[durasell]

Is it to late to get a crack in about "gum control?"

[Grammy]

lol
(and, isn't your tag line supposed to say "...do what chew want?)

[The Citizen Soldier]

I'd like to meet the person who would actually pay $1.5 million for this er, piece of art. I have some pictures on the refrigerator painted by my 7 year-old grandson that I'd let go for the bargain price of say, $600 thou.

[Tunehead54]

Ok. Here's my plan:

Palehorse - you just bring the Jack Daniels.

Verity - you get some fancy looking moulding and some walnut stain - we're gonna need a frame - you seem to know where Home Depot is

6SJ7 - We're gonna need your drop cloth - bring some scissors too.

commish - we'll need you to call the museum and offer them a piece from the Queen of England's "private collection".

Me: I'll be the broker and let them know I think I can get it for only a million - if they act quickly.

Trailerpark Badass - We're putting your name on the painting.

Even though its my plan I'll cut you all in even - 200 Grand apiece. Who's in? Don't worry it'll still be a 5 way split.

---

;-)

[ladyjane]

Then when some of Greenberg's pals were visiting, he showed them her work...Greenberg, and Michael Fried, and other critics wrote volumes about their work. But they never mentioned Frankenthaler, who started it all.

Watson and Crick and the double helix all over again.

[Tunehead54]

Please see my #154 and explain this to Trailerpark Badass. Please extend him our condolences and thanks for being such a good sport.

---

It might take a little backtracking but I appreciate your help. ;-)

[Semi Civil Servant]

Great article. Thanks.

[Old Professer]

Any dummy knows this is the one the gum goes on:

[freedumb2003]

I think we have a critic.

On par with the one in "History of the World: Part I" ;)

[Calpernia]

I say it was Batman's fault.

He must have seen how the Joker behaves in museums

:)