Ok, I went to the Museum of Modern Art tonight, before going home. I’ll share what stood out to me. One thing I do want to say….I’ve been so busy with going to Art Openings and doing my Webmetrics work, that I don’t feel I paint enough, and I miss it. I hope to get some time over at Brooklyn Artists Gym later this weekend.

R.B. Kitaj painted the Ohio Gang in 1964 and it was first painting to catch my eye tonight (and I did not have my glasses - I had Lasik 6 or 7 years ago and my eyes are almost perfect 20/20, but not quite - I usually wear a very weak pair of glasses when I go to museums). BTW, you can click on these pictures to blow them up.

I have liked Katij’s work for some time - but rarely see it these days; Katij seems to be something of a painter’s painter - not all that popular, but admired.

David Hockney painted “Seated Woman Being Served Tea by Standing Companion” in 1963 and what I noted was two things (see below).

There’s a lot of push and pull with the decorative patterning in the drapery and the figures are naked. What I think David Hockney is after in this painting …honesty. Hockney is looking at a couple without anything on and the man is serving the woman. I’m not sure wha the drapery represents but the artist needed it in the painting and he takes more interest in that, perhaps, than the figures. Perhaps the man and woman are part of the drapery…it’s a simple arrangement, but effective and well painted.

James Rosenquist’s painting, Marilyn Monroe, 1 - painted in 1962, was a tribute to the Marilyn Monroe painted shortly after her death. It’s been suggested that Rosenquist used the Coca-Cola Icon in this painting to equate Marilyn Monroe with Pop Culture - an Icon of it. I’m not sure he needed to do that as she was already an icon before she died.

Actually, this painting is ok, but it’s a little too “iconic” for my own tastes - maybe too obvious - it’s like James Rosenquist is hitting me over the head…ok Marilyn Monroe has a great, sexy mouth, and yes, her eyes are as aluring as Coke-Cola is addictive (or was) and you can look up her nose (top right of painting) or see what her hand is feeling. I get it ….but for all that - it’s more of an illustration of Marilyn Monroe than a painting….in other words, the artist was trying too hard.

I’ll put some more of my visit to MOMA in my next post - stay tuned.

Robert Rauschenberg: Scenarios and the Ancient Incident opened last night and I attended - but I did not see Robert Rauschenberg (if he was at his own opening - it was mobbed and you could not see him - and I’m told he’s in a wheelchair now and lives in Florida).

“The twelve paintings, each measuring a little over 7′ x 10′, are visual collages created from Rauschenberg’s vast archive of found and self-generated photographs, which then get transferred onto aluminum panels covered in polylaminate synthetic fabric. Rauschenberg has always been recognized for his innate ability to create a striking commentary on the surrounding landscape, and his Scenario paintings are undeniably Americana in nature, focusing on rural America, the South and New York City. “

Similar to Warhol, Rauschenberg is about process but I see more feeling and creativity in his work - at least there’s some personal connection with the images he uses. They did not have red wine at the opening - only white wine.

The best thing about going to Pace Wildenstein uptown was the collection of post impressionist prints from Cezanne, Picasso, etc - I spent more time looking at those then the Rauschenberg’s, which I liked - but again - it’s all about process - and at that point - it’s hard for me to get that involved - only a couple of works touched me at all - and those are the one’s I’ll display below.

I got more talking to Rauschenberg’s photographer - who I happened to run into trying to find the show - than anyone else - and I did get some interesting information from him…his name started with an “A” like “Alfon” or something like that ….not good with remembering names - esp the first time I speak to someone.

Here’s some photos (you can click on each to blow them up) - not as satisfying an opening as I’d have liked.

Enjoy!

There were 2 Andy Warhol openings at Gagosian Gallery tonight - I went to the first show and felt I had enough and did not need to see the second show. In fact, the Gagosian Gallery on W. 24th street was large enough to be a museum and had about 7 or 8 large rooms - all filled with Warhol’s late work.

Here’s some shots from the show - you can click on each to blow them up.

This last painting - the Last Supper - interesting to me in that Andy Warhol mixed in Dove and GE.

Here’s what I think - most of the Andy Warhol “paintings” are “process” and look OK if you don’t ask for anything more than what you see. Warhol is all process - if there’s any strugle - growth - insight - I don’t see it. I just see process. His process would not work for me - but he became his process.

Andy Warhol is more like a geneticist, taking the same thing and varying the arrangement, colors, etc. The work are produced in mass, in fact, the mass production of his work, prints, paintings - it was easy to fill to large galleries - but one was enough for me.

A lot of people were at the opening - some colorfully dressed - all types. I felt between this Andy Warhol show and the show at White Box tonight - I had had seen enought for one night and went home.