Obama's Plans For White House Art

[babylonsister]

Obama's Plans For White House Art

by David A. Ross

The art world is buzzing that the president wants contemporary art in the private residence of The White House. Former museum director David A. Ross on what could (and should) be hanging at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.


Late in the first Clinton administration, I made my only visit to the White House. A New York art patron who was receiving an award invited me to witness the event. I hardly remember the art on view in the public rooms—when I search my memory, I recall only a sweet portrait of Mamie Eisenhower, in a fluffy pink dress, painted by W.G Williams, who is purported to have been a member of the Minnesota Chippewa tribe.



Now, in the first weeks of the Obama administration, the art world is aflame with rumors that the president and the first lady want serious works by living American artists for their private quarters. This is not the art that the thousands of tourists and VIP visitors will see in the public rooms of the White House. So does it matter whether the Obamas turn out to have good taste or a sophisticated take on the art of our times?

To an arts community that has been alternately ignored and reviled by Washington in recent years, it matters enormously, so, like Kremlinologists, it scrutinizes any bit of news. Michelle Obama wears J Crew—there must be a clue there? President Obama is close to Chicago museum heavyweights Penny Pritzker and Lewis Manilow and counts among his early supporters Eli Broad and Agnes Gund, two people with enormous influence in the American art community. Surely the president will take their counsel seriously?

more...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-02-11/the-state-of-obamas-art/

[Clio the Leo]

1. RUNNING AROUND AND SCREAMING WITH GLEE EVEN BEFORE I'VE READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE!!! YAY!!! NT

[Clio the Leo]

2. I SO wish he could get that Hope painting.....

Granted, it's not modern but still how cool would that be? Another painting by the same artist hangs in the White House, perhaps he could arrange for a swap?

A painting called 'Hope' wins fans as Barack Obama's inspiration

Entitled "Hope," the canvas hanging inside London's Guildhall Art Gallery as part of an exhibition by Victorian painter George Frederic Watts might appear unremarkable to some.

In drab browns and grays on a blue background, it depicts a young blindfolded woman strumming on the last unbroken string of a harp, her ear to the instrument.

Obama's controversial former pastor Jeremiah Wright invoked the image as a symbol of inspiration during a sermon in Chicago 20 years ago.

The harpist, he preached, "is sitting there in rags ... her clothes are tattered as though she had been a victim of Hiroshima… the woman had the audacity to hope."

The imagery stayed with Obama. The young politician adapted that phrase in his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic Convention – which marked his breakthrough onto the national stage – and again in 2006 as the title of his second book.


http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1128/p04s02-woeu.html

He also talked about while living in New York, how he enjoyed having lunch at the MOMA.

I like this man ...... I like him very much. ;)

[babylonsister]

3. That picture is gorgeous. I like this man and his wife, too. When was the

last time the words 'president' and 'art' were combined in this way? I'm so jazzed by what they consider important, and how that's expressed.

[Hardrada]

15. President's wife and art. That was Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

5. OMG. That is SO beautiful and poignant.

Getting misty here.

[Hardrada]

4. Are they going to take out the picture of the Budweiser horses?

[babylonsister]

7. Hahaha! I think idiot son probably held on to that one. nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. Yes!! Yo Yo Ma and Itzy Perlman at the Inauguration was a good start.

I'm a musician and visual artist both.

I hope that they will send money to non-profit arts organizations and put us to work, like they did in the New Deal.

I noticed that in Obama's Lincoln speech tonight he also mentioned Darwin. Very cool.

[Cha]

8. Culture..Art, Music, Beauty..all

at our disposal in the People's HOuse. I'd love to go tour the White House before I leave the East Coast when there wouldn't be that many people around. Maybe in the Summer.

[Ilsa]

9. Laura Bush talked about the Monet painting that the WH owns

and how much they all like sitting around staring at it.

It's great that the Obamas will bring modern art to the WH.

[Starry Messenger]

10. I wish there was a place to sign up.

Me me me! (raises hand) I'm alive!



It's contemporary and I encourage a love for books. A twofer.


</suckup>

[4lbs]

11. So, you mean Dubya's velvet paintings of Elvis and dogs playing poker aren't in vogue anymore?

Crap!

I gotta get some RMA numbers tomorrow!

[Hardrada]

16. And the talking fish on the wall plaque singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

[smalll]

12. Thank God the bisected sharks in formaldehyde dude is British

is all I can say at this point. :shrug:

"... serious works by living American artists."

[tridim]

13. Bravo Mr. President.

This is such great news.

I honestly can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

[starroute]

14. Is Ross the art guy who was just on Colbert?

I think so -- he seemed like a good sport and somebody with a lot of sense.