Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.latimes.misc From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Understanding Artworks Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 08:59:51 EST Message-ID: HEADLINE: Understanding Artworks Publication Date: Saturday November 14, 1992 BYLINE: Anyone who thinks April Fool's Day comes only once a year doesn't read the art reviews in Calendar. That a lot of alleged artists are exhibiting junk is not the point; everyone has a right to create and exhibit their efforts. The tragedy is that critics seem to gravitate toward the poorest examples, then strain their thesauruses trying to justify their lack of acumen. Thus, we're expected to take seriously a painting that "depicts a chorus line of camels with their chins held high. Their bulbous humps overlap, forming a pattern that simultaneously conjures (to whom?) forbidden sex and distances us from its threat. The camels' hind legs end in a candy-colored rainbow of pantyhose and garter belts. . . ." ("Charm, Trauma Mix in Wesley Works," Oct. 22). Call it junk and you'll be told: "You don't understand it." The truth is that the better you understand it the less you find to like. Wake up and take an honest look at what the arbiters of taste are touting as art! Learn to understand it. You'll find better art on the comics pages. GEORGE TURNER Pasadena This article is copyright 1992 The Los Angeles Times Home Edition. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM