Red Grooms

Every young pup with pretentions who's about to enter art school for the first time should be hit over the head with this book as they pass through the ivy-covered entrance. What's been missing from art the last several decades? Simple. FUN, COLOR, JOY, HUMOR, DELIGHT-IN-LIFE, SENSE-OF-WONDER, THE SUBLIME, CRAFT, TALENT. Last two contemporary art exhibitions I walked into I burst out laughing. In the first case there was nothing there--well not enough worth mentioning--and all this wonderous nothing took up a spectacular amount of space. In the second, the art was so over-the-top lame and foolish that I almost sprayed out my mouthful of cheap "opening" wine--a wall covered in socks stuffed full of brie or something equally absurd. Worse, they were no different than exhibits I'd attended TWENTY YEARS AGO. Furthermore, just how many more salutes to race, gender, differently abled-ness, multi-culturalism, AIDs awareness, violence awareness, and so on do we need? Do we really want our lives filled with nothing but either slick marketing crap or propaganda? At some point isn't it getting horribly obvious that these "social concerns" are all fallback points for mediocre artists who lack any genuine inspiration? After all who's gonna write a bad review about an art show that highlights violence against women? What prof is going it give it a bad grade, especially if the prof is a feminist who thinks the purpose of all art is to increase awareness of women's issues? It could be TOTAL CRAP and she'll ace it. Hell, do a lot of art that shows how enamoured you are with your own private parts and you might meet a hot date during the opening. Seriously, this entire contemporary art culture, from schools and grants on down, needs to be examined in detail. Sure, these are important social topics I'm slinging mud at but its stuff like this and the never-ending minimalist and art installation mentality, AND the corporate baloney, that's driven all the STUFF WE'D GENUINELY GET A KICK OUT OF off the map. If all art does is reflect how sick and screwed up the world, or at least the artist, is, or "celebrate" mediocrity then how do we fire people up with the kind of lust for life that'd make them want to change things? And most of these socially concerned art exhibits preach to the choir, or are self-congratulatory daisy-chains, or are such hideous bummers that one wants to go home and blow ones brains out. Nothing has changed, no wrong has been righted, but somebody got a grade or a grant, or some promotion and a bunch of sensitive trendies can go home and think they did something great for the world while they nibbled on cheese and crackers. This is all so horrifyingly obvious to regular Janes and Joes out there that the Republicans can cut 100% of all funding for art--and they sure as heck will--and there'll be nary a peep. Remember "Piss Christ" from years ago? Well believe me they never forgot it. Honestly, it, along with too much of Maplethorpes work, and a l

There is more life and awed-amazement-at-the-world in Red Grooms' work than you will find in any given 10,000 snotty galleries and overstuffed museums. And yes, Virginia, it really is art, but it's OK to laugh. Buy this book and renew your faith in... well, in Western Culture, if you insist. This stuff is So Cool! (Plus Arthur Danto is no mean critic, so that doesn't hurt any either.)