Art & Society

© Mary Rayme

Let's Take A Picture

  1. CaptainCivility
  2. Mary Rayme


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1.   Feb 20, 2007 5:02 PM

» CaptainCivility - The cult of the relic just won't die


Let's take a picture of the painting, hang it in a nice frame, and spend the $35,000,000.00 on a children's hospital, why don't we?
On the other hand, I wish my 151 year old Arky great-grandmother was alive to see this day.

-- posted by CaptainCivility


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2.   Feb 21, 2007 12:09 PM

» Feature Writer Mary Rayme - The cult of the relic just won't die

In response to The cult of the relic just won't die posted by CaptainCivility:
It's true that $35 million is a LOT to spend on a piece of canvas coated with paint by a dead artist. And it's not like the money went to the family of the artist in any way.

I had a friend who used to remind me about how much we as a country spend on weapons... Tanks cost a bundle, he used to say, why shouldn't art?

Sometimes, I think the artificial commodity of art reminds me of the tulip commodity craze of olde Holland. When a buyer is willing to spend that much on a work of art it is about status as much as it is about bestowing culture.

I think I really dislike what Ms. Walton chooses to do with her millions but I can't say I wouldn't be doing the same thing if I were in her (well-heeled) shoes.

Captain Civility, I think your grandmother would have been hungry for such a big shiny new museum in her home state.

Suite101
Feature Writer Mary Rayme
Feature Writer for Art & Society


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