How Low Can "ART" Go?

Ok! here is the deal. I'm not an artist but I know what art I like. Artists need people like me to appreciate what they do or they starve. Come to think of it if they had to live on what monies I devote from my pocket to art they ALL would starve. I might trade and barter though. Then through eBay they might make a a few bucks...

Anyway! Art I like has to usually make sense. I do like some of the stuff that is like inkblots and you have to guess what it is. I also like the find it pictures like "Where's Waldo". And mazes. But I learned early in life if you start in the center and work out it is easier.

But I digress. ... Rereading I find this whole post is, so far, digression...

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In London at Trafalgar Square there are four "Plinths" or large bases for statues. One of them, the Forth Plinth has been vacant since it's construction initially due to insufficient funds but left empty due to political arguments over what to put there.

Use for the empty plinth has temporarily been settled with a deal called "One & Other", "A grand project that is meant to stretch the boundaries of sculpture by placing 2,400 people on the square’s usually vacant fourth plinth, for an hour apiece (only one at a time), from now through Oct. 6."

"This is not about privilege, not about power, not about war or honoring the dead," said the artist, Antony Gormley. "It’s about celebrating the living." Britons (only) are lifted to the empty plinth by a 'cherry picker' and you can watch. The website has a disclaimer that there might be offensive content and Gormley stated in an interview, "Nakedness is absolutely essential," ... "Nakedness is to art what the ball is to football."

London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, had a different take: “It’s a triumphant meditation on the themes of fame and glory,” he declared. “My friends, someday your plinth will come.”

The idea seems simple, but has been fairly complicated to pull off. More than 17,000 people have applied for the slots, mostly through the Internet, with winners — who have to be over 16 and living in Britain — selected by a computer algorithm that accounts for geographical diversity. The slots for September and October have yet (at the time of this posting) to be filled.

Well I only have seen two people so far and I'm still waiting for the art...

In the first 24 minutes I saw one lady holding her hands in supplication to the sky, bringing them down to a prayerful attitude, then bending to place her hands on the ground, then back up to the sky. Some kind of art or perhaps just a statement that I could not understand. She should have set up a sign to proclaim what the heck she was doing. Praying to the Living God or worshiping the sky and earth... The next gal I saw was tearing Kleenex (Reg TM for facial tissue) into little tiny pieces and allowing the wind to litter the city with it. An hour of littering London with bits of paper is art? ... Well I am glad I'm not paying for it. Nor do I have to clean it up. I'll sit entranced wondering if she might have to blow her nose and if she will tear that one into little pieces.

At least it is not a crucifix in a jar of urine, a picture of Mary made from elephant dung nor a bullwhip up some rectal aperture's anal aperture.

This gal with the Kleenex looks self satisfied like she really accomplished something. They are now coming with the cherry picker and the replacement. Some character wearing what looks like a cow costume.

Now That is ART!

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Acres of Books in Long Beach to Sell and Move

Looks like it is 'near' official - Acres of Books, a longtime hangout of bookaholics is searching for new digs. 240 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach California will be turned over to redevelopers (the City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency is brokering the deal) for "commercial space, housing and an art center where local works can be displayed and art-related events can be hosted".

2.8 million is the reported purchase price of the property which was owned by the store as opposed to their renting.

Evidently to the city a book store is not suitable for 'commercial space'. - Nor are books to be considered art...

"We are not planning on absolutely closing down," said Smith, co-owner of Acres of Books along with her husband Phil. "We are looking for a new location."

Their website posted:

Dear Customers and Friends of Acres of Books,

Jackie and I have negotiated the sale of our property, building and land at 240 Long Beach Blvd. Acres of Books has been there since my grandfather, Bertrand Smith, moved there in 1964. We still own the book store business, Acres of Books.

We had no choice but to deal with the City of Long Beach, Redevelopment Agency. Craig Beck and Carl Morgan, whom we worked very closely with, treated us in a business like manner, and helped to get us thru some very important issues.

The City is going to let us stay in their building one more year. This will give us a chance to have a couple of stock reduction sales, while we continue to look for a place to buy. We will not be able to have as much stock in a new building, even if we find one as big as we have now. The aisles will have to be twice as wide and not near as high. Oh well.

So, please continue to visit us, just to look around and hopefully find something you have been looking for, at a fair price. As my grandfather, Bertrand, (Pop, as we called him) said when a customer found an under priced gem, “I made my money at that price, that’s enough.”

Let us know your name and address, and we will let you know when we have a sale, and you can save a lot of money.

Come in and say hello to Jackie, Ron, Aaron, Steve, Amber, Mary, David, Sean, Megan, Cheyenne and Chloe. Don’t forget to give Penny, the bookstore cat a pat and rub, or a hug.

Thank you so much, and we hope to see you soon,
Phil and Jackie Smith

The deal is not quite final. The RDA will take up the 'issue' for 'approval with the RDA Board' April 21, 08.

Gazette.com reports,

At a recent downtown neighborhoods meeting, Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West were implored to save Acres of Books.

But the purchase of the Acres of Books site, and the block that surrounds it, is designed to clear the way for another project that has long been sought in the downtown - and "art exchange."

"We’re trying to create an art-themed building," Beck said. "We've talked with the community about an art exchange where artists could live and have galleries to sell their work, where there would be a residential component. We have talked to (California State University, Long Beach) about maybe doing some art student housing."

The goal of all of that would be to have a building that links the core of downtown with the East Village, Beck said.

He said that the RDA offered to have Acres of Books be a part of that, but Smith said that was not going to be a good fit. She said it was an emotional decision to move on.

Student Housing??? - Well with the students they are turning out these days they should have negotiated keeping the picture books...

The City of Long Beach, California might have utilized the term, 'Eminent Domain' in their negotiations with owners Phil and Jackie Smith or they might not have. I didn't see the words used in the news articles but I did see the methods cities have cultivated through the years to 'purchase' properties for 'pet projects'.

prying1 sez:
'Pet projects' cost taxpayers dollars they can't afford and give only limited returns.

Where is the Supreme Court on the issue of cities taking property against property owners wishes?

Probably taking a nap...

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Who then was this Gustave Dore?

The Terrible Gustave Dore by Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt - Apparently only two printings. - Marchbanks Press, NY, NY, 1943 & Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn, 1976 -

"Originated as a lecture given before the Groller Club in New York City on December 14, 1939" -

On the first page the author, Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt asks the question, "Who then was this Gustave Dore?" He goes on to ask, "What sort of life did he live? Was he a happy man and his life a rich one? What were his ambitions, his hopes and fears? What caused his early death?"

These are questions Helmut asked and sought answers for. He had grown up seeing and admiring pictures by Gustave in the Bible and Perrault Fairy tales long before he could read.

Dante and the Lion

Hellmut says in the paragraph after his questions, "On the following pages I have tried to answer these questions. My search has brought me close to Gustave Dore. He has become a friend. Perhaps you too will discover a friend in him."

25 Illustrations, some full page and some in text are scattered through the book plus there is a sample of his handwriting. A very good biography. - Quite a good book. -

- prying1 -

The above picture is just a portion of the work. I had to crop it for this posting.

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A few copies are available and can be found through Bookfinder.com.

Hat Tip to WorldCat.org for their resources.
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Summary of the 2007 Messiah Concert in Temecula/Murrieta

Each year dozens of people that love to sing spend time practicing in small groups, join together for one group practice and then put on a concert that is enjoyable, uplifting, delightful and a whole slew of positive adjectives.

This has happened in Temecula/Murrieta California for untold years now and is a free event. This year the organizers refused to take an offering. I did not hear the reason why but I think it may be because they feel that they are giving to God freely that which He deserves. - That is, music honoring Him.

Thanks to Madge and Chuck Griffing for their labor to bring each year's concert to fruition.

Handel's Messiah is one classical music piece that is enjoyed by people of all faiths although Christians versed in scriptures of both Testaments seem to be the majority of audiences. Perhaps because it is most often played in churches.

This year a thanks goes to Calvary Chapel, Murrieta, CA for offering the use of their facilities. Wonderful building with great acoustics. Wonderful building for worshiping and praising God. Which is what the musicians and singers did on the first Sunday of December.

The entire oratorio now names, Handel's Messiah was written in just 24 days. This is most impressive if one looks at it in it's entirety. The singers, bass, tenor, alto, Soprano (Sopranos deserve a capital letter!) are often individually singing different pieces of music from the rest of the group. The instruments have their own sheets of music that would only confuse most of the singers if the pages were mixed up.

Altogether, if the notes were placed on their sides and laid end to end it would only stretch halfway to heaven. - However! Standing up straight and in the jiggly lines Handel wrote them in they reach all the way!!!

A remarkable feat is what I say.

Regarding this years event
prying1 sez:

The concert went well this year except for an occasional misunderstanding of directions from the conductor.

At certain points in time the conductor would motion for a soloist to rise and step forward. Some of the singers rose too. That would get other singers to rise thinking they had missed the signal. Then those that rose in error would realize their mistake and sit back down. Those that followed the standing process then followed the sitting process. At this point the ones that didn't join in at first would now stand and sit.

Needless to say it resembled a wave at a baseball game...

That aside the music was wonderful and please plan on attending next year. - The first Sunday in December.

I'll remind you.

Hopefully the three young girls that sang The appearance of the Angel to the shepherds will be there next year. Such angelic voices! One of the highlights of the show.

Speaking of highlights I heard (this is hearsay) that some of the more youthful musicians were recruited from local High Schools and this affords them an opportunity to join in with more experienced musicians. - It sure didn't sound like any High school band I've ever heard. - I'm sure they were as thrilled playing the music as I was listening.

For many it is the start of the Christmas Season. For me Christmas Season really seems to start when the practices start. The Performance kicks it into gear and fires up the afterburners.

Bring on the fat man in the funny suit. I'm ready for him.

A special thanks to Gawfer, Political Pistachio and their families for attending this year. It was great meeting you all and I only wish we had more time to spend together.

Perhaps next year we can get you to join in the choir!
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Some Excellent eBay Deals

A friend of mine, "Quezalmark" is currently posting some items on eBay that I hope will interest you. - A friend of hers is moving from her home of MANY years into a retirement home and as a result much of her collected treasures are on the 'auction block'.

Two items of note are watercolor paintings by Frances Wheeler of scenes from the Washington D.C. area. - Other paintings by Frances Wheeler are listed on AskArt and show auction estimates ranging from $600.00-$2000.00 - - - Quezalmark's starting prices are $99.00... - Check out the bio on Wheeler that Quezalmark has on the auctions... - Homework was done on these babies!

- To view image if it is under the sidebar - right click on picture and select/click "View Image" - OR! Click on the link......

Fabulous C1945 Frances Wheeler Watercolor Flower Seller Washington DC

Frances Wheeler Watercolor Washington Monument DC

So! You don't care about watercolor paintings? - Won't fit your decor? Have no interest in art investments??? - Don't let that stop you from checking out the other well kept items from the 30's & 40's that Quezalmark has listed.

Quezalmark's Auctions

- What you bid will be going to the owner of the goods. Any extra you add to the final price plus postage will help defer costs... - - - Please note that not all that Quezalmark might have listed is for the friend that is moving. These auctions are time sensitive too. - Ask if you are not sure but rest assured that it is quality stuff on these auctions.


These paintings are not an "eBay Charity Auction" so you can be assured that all profits (Quzalmark is eating the ebay fees for her friend's auctions!) will be going to the intended target.

Not "CORPORATIONS" (read SCAM ARTISTS!") with 'empty pockets till you fill them' (like ebay charity auctions is prone to do!) -

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- pockets waiting to be filled with money that an elderly lady could use... -

Knowing this consider adding a few bucks to the final bid/postage to help cover Quezalmark's labor of love...
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Since this posting is liable to be seen worldwide I thought I'd point out too Quezalmark's T.O.S. includes this bit:

Overseas & Canadian Bidders are welcome, but you MUST USE PAYPAL to pay for the auction. If you cannot pay by this method, please do not bid!
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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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