Comments on: How I Spent my Winter Vacation

By: ginger

ginger — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:06:56 +0000

I agree a great post and full of passion. “Idle art talk” or “cafe…” is probably not all that you don’t have tolerance for while dealing with life/death issues….I appreciate your honesty,passion, openness and sharing it all.

By: Karl Zipser

Karl Zipser — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:51:55 +0000

Whining about the unfairness of the art world is a ghastly bad habit. Shed it at once.

Whining about anything is a ghastly bad habit, of course. Great post, Rex!

By: Rex

Rex — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:13:49 +0000

Sunil,

As I indicated to June, I felt I was unduly harsh and rather wished I hadn’t said things the way I did say them.

I admire and respect this group too. Sometimes I just feel very much estranged. The fault is mine. Birgit’s observation struck a chord with me.

By: birgit

birgit — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:44:01 +0000

I am reminded of a colleague in Colorado who ran Marathons, skied and bicycled. He also made fun of the café set. Maybe a heavy dose of the healthy outdoors does not agree with art-talk .

Years ago, I dreamt of participating in gatherings (salons in Paris, 1.5 centuries ago?) where artists, painters and musicians met and talked. It now has come true in A&P cyberspace.

I like the diversity of interests and characters here - abstract/representational art and telemark; straight and gay; young and youthful.

By: Sunil Gangadharan

Sunil Gangadharan — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:14:05 +0000

Rex,
This is a post with feeling. I got up this morning and read this and feel a mixture of emotions… felt good about the morning light, sad about some of the devastating diseases that overtake some of us (including some close members of your family) and took some umbrage with your mention of ‘idle art talk’. I find A&P a venue where I could share some of my trials with people who need reply only if it finds resonance. To characterise that as idle banter is indeed not very uplifting. I like this group. In fact at some point on our lives this group should meet face to face. It is a group that has feeling, convictions and strong views about a lot of things.

By: birgit

birgit — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:57:54 +0000

I took telemark lessions 20 yrs ago when I was in Colorado for a winter conference. Now, I just cross-country ski, using skis with metal edges for the dunes.

Telemark felt like yoga - blissful balance. Perhaps, a year from now with more time on my hands, I will learn it more fully.

With respect to cameras, I did the opposite from you this week. I bought a heavy camera for shooting in the Sleeping Bear Dunes this summer. I unpacked it this morning, happy like a small child.

By: Rex

Rex — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:25:45 +0000

June,

After I posted, I realized I sounded more critical than I actually feel. There’s a big difference between idle art talk and art talk. Actually, I would rather have not even put that bit in. I was trying to express a certain distance and disinterest what Monet used to describe as the café set. It is bad for my work. I admire your passions. Don’t let me intrude.

And Birgit? Do you free heel?