“You can't see it, but there's a quiet cultural revolution under way at the White House,” gushed the AP's Nancy Benac in the lead to her Tuesday night dispatch headlined: “Modern art hits 1600 Pa. Ave.” Benac heralded:
The Obamas are decorating their private spaces with more modern and abstract artwork than has ever hung on the White House walls. New pieces by contemporary African-American and Native American artists are on display. Bold colors, odd shapes, squiggly lines have arrived.
In the celebration of the kind of art the Obamas have chosen to display in office and residential areas, Benac admired the “impressive assortment of modern and contemporary work” mixed with “an intriguing trio of patent models,” all of which “a private art dealer in New York” pronounced “highly sophisticated” as he applauded: “We feel we have someone now in the White House who is saying that culture is an important part of this country.”
Benac added another glowing review, highlighting how Harry Cooper, “curator of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery, said the Obama's selections are exciting the art world.”
To say nothing of how they've excited Benac and the Associated Press.
Benac's description of the painting which illustrated the AP article:
The Obamas' selections include an impressive assortment of modern and contemporary works from the National Gallery of Art. One of the most striking is Edward Ruscha's "I Think I'll ... ," which superimposes phrases such as "I think I'll ..." and "maybe ... no" and "wait a minute" on top of a blood red sunset.
An excerpt from the Washington, DC-datelined October 6 AP story:
You can't see it, but there's a quiet cultural revolution under way at the White House.The Obamas are decorating their private spaces with more modern and abstract artwork than has ever hung on the White House walls. New pieces by contemporary African-American and Native American artists are on display. Bold colors, odd shapes, squiggly lines have arrived. So, too, have some obscure artifacts, such as patent models for a gear cutter and a steamboat paddlewheel, that now sit in the Oval Office....
Thomas' "Watusi (Hard Edge)" now hangs in the East Wing, where Michelle Obama has her offices. The acrylic on canvas, on loan from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, shows a jumble of geometric shapes in bright reds, blues and greens....
Working with California decorator Michael Smith and White House curator William Allman, the Obamas have borrowed dozens of works from various Washington museums and galleries, being sure to use only items that weren't already on display. Other recent first families hung a few modern pieces in their living quarters, but none approached the scope of the Obamas, Allman said....
The first lady's office provided a list Tuesday of dozens of pieces of artwork-on-loan that now supplement the hundreds of more traditional landscapes, portraits and still life paintings that dominate the permanent White House collection.
Richard Feigen, a private art dealer in New York, scanned the list and pronounced it "highly sophisticated."
"We're encouraged as far as the art world," Feigen said. "We feel we have someone now in the White House who is saying that culture is an important part of this country."
Jeri Redcorn, a 69-year-old Native American artist from Norman, Okla., said she started jumping up and down and screaming when she found out last week that a piece of her pottery was on a bookshelf in the Oval Office....
Harry Cooper, curator of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery, said the Obama's selections are exciting the art world and should provide a significant boost to the arts in general.
"This is great art to live with," he said. "A lot of it is challenging. There are different styles: figurative art, abstract art. A lot of it is avant-garde: It was avant-garde, and a lot of it still is avant-garde."
The Obamas' list of borrowed items also includes an intriguing trio of patent models on loan from the National Museum of American History, including models for Samuel Morse's 1849 telegraph register, a gear-cutting machine and a paddlewheel for a steamboat...
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center




















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Funny how that Edward Ruscha
October 7, 2009 - 06:52 ET by karelingFunny how that Edward Ruscha thing seems to be representative of Obama's position on Afghanistan.
Waffling, Ambivalence, Vacillating, Wavering, etc.
October 7, 2009 - 07:28 ET by mom_rox"On Second Thought"
Knowing that the Obamas specifically chose this piece does not inspire confidence in our President.
~~save your tea, dump congress~~
...odd shapes, squiggly
October 7, 2009 - 07:06 ET by PeskyDane...odd shapes, squiggly lines...
Sort of a metaphor for this administration, huh? Once again, the irony which proceeds from the mouth of libtards is lost on them.
Yes....Isn't it ironic?
October 7, 2009 - 07:47 ET by BlondeAnd another poster here also nailed it...that screen cap perfectly reflects EGObama.
A drink of cold water and a decision would make him comatose.
I hope he fails, too.
Let me get this straight
October 7, 2009 - 07:06 ET by richb313Let me get this straight the AP is excited because bold colors and squiggly lines are replacing art?
Well if you look in that
October 7, 2009 - 07:25 ET by PeskyDaneWell if you look in that pile of coloring books by Barry's night stand...
ROTFLMAO!!!!Facts are
October 7, 2009 - 07:48 ET by rockyracoonROTFLMAO!!!! Would those be the My Little Pony coloring books, or the G.I. Joe ones???
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
We'll go with G.I Joe just
October 7, 2009 - 08:05 ET by PeskyDaneWe'll go with G.I Joe just to me nice. I was partial to Bible stories myself...
Jonny Quest was a
October 7, 2009 - 08:14 ET by rockyracoonJonny Quest was a particular favorite of mine, as well as Superman!!!
I can't stop laughing at your earlier post, everytime I think about it, it gives me a fit of the giggles, thanks!!
________________________________
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
thanks, Rock... yeah Johnny
October 7, 2009 - 09:53 ET by PeskyDanethanks, Rock... yeah Johnny Quest was pretty cool. As Paul said to the Corinthians - "when I was a child..."
[Heavy sigh, heavy sigh].
I truly think the current occupant of the oval office hasn't put away his childish things, as evidenced by his rainbow/unicorn view of the world.
I truly think the current
October 7, 2009 - 16:23 ET by rockyracoonI truly think the current occupant of the oval office hasn't put away his childish things, as evidenced by his rainbow/unicorn view of the world.
----Ain't THAT the truth!!!
________________________________
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
This list has been posted here before...
October 7, 2009 - 07:54 ET by dvdaughtry...So I offer, my apologies for not knowing the attribution.
Just want to bring #22 to the front.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."
Link
[From "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen] 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policy-making positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat]. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
sorry for the formatting.
October 7, 2009 - 07:54 ET by dvdaughtrysorry for the formatting. It looks good until I hit "post comment".
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
No worries, daughtry
October 7, 2009 - 08:06 ET by BlondeTHat happens sometimes, and can't be helped.
I hope he fails, too.
Oh... modern art!
October 7, 2009 - 07:09 ET by motherbeltSilly me! When I read the headline, I thought they were hanging up their daughters' art work!
Motherbelt
October 7, 2009 - 07:37 ET by karelingThat's exactly what I thought too: Another cute "Awwww!" story, this time about Malia and Sasha scribbling crayons on the WH walls.
Yet I still nearly tossed up my breakfast.
Maybe you should send
October 7, 2009 - 07:56 ET by rockyracoonMaybe you should send it in, and it could also decorate the walls inside the WH!!! LOL
________________________________
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
There is a reason they call it contemporary....
October 7, 2009 - 07:40 ET by superconHighlight the word temporary. Anybody, even some wino on the street can name a famous artist who lived centuries ago. In five minutes from now who will remember the name Watusi without thinking of some dance move from the thirties? Is this supposed to make us think that the Obama's are filled with freshness and we should now just roll over on healthcare or something? Remember the Clintons....? They were cool too.
" if Republicans are able to stop Barack Obama on health care, 'it will be his Waterloo, it will break him...." -Sen. Jim DeMint
Give me a break! This
October 7, 2009 - 07:44 ET by nadadhimmiGive me a break! This degenerate crapola is "challenging"? Just further proof this man Obama is undermining American and Western Civilization purposefully.
to comment
October 7, 2009 - 07:47 ET by oldmanateeon the comment made by the selected piece is just too easy.
However, I never knew a square picture was considered an odd shape.
I do have a finger painting I'd like to donate.
Art and politics
October 7, 2009 - 08:13 ET by KC MulvilleWell, I'm happy for them. I don't have anything against putting new art in the White House. But, there are things to beware of.
Art is always expression. The creation (and buying and display) of art is always a statement. And that's why art and politics mix, but they always mix badly. A politician makes statements only to advance his agenda. Politicians use whatever means are at their disposal, art included. Remember the phone call where the NEA was organizing to get all people on Obama's political page? It's just one more example of political manipulation.
Remember Obama sent back a bust of Winston Churchill to the Brits, who were pissed off about it. Churchill wasn't a statement that Obama wanted to make. What got the Brits riled up was that they offered to allow Obama to keep it, but he refused. It caused a small diplomatic row at the time, and the Brits took it as a bad sign, and they were right. US-UK relations have been cool, to say the least.
Private art dealer in New York...
October 7, 2009 - 09:35 ET by JPR1Now there’s someone with his finger on the pulse of ordinary America. Of course his idea of culture includes a lot of garbage ordinary Americans wouldn’t bother to set out at a garage sale.
"We feel we have someone now in the White House who is saying that culture is an important part of this country."
A cheap shot at Presidents past?
Five bucks says LBJ had a set of steer horns on the premises and considered it “Art”. (Not that there’s anything wrong with steer horns of course.)
Lord knows what kind of crap Carter stuck on the walls.
Barack the faux sophisticate; all things to all people.
Art and Crap
October 7, 2009 - 10:59 ET by Mike76I consider this to be art:
http://www.artrenewal.org/
and this (photography):
http://ppfeyte.free.fr/indexE.htm
I think this is crap:
http://www.merello.com/modern_art_daily/modern_art_daily_painting.-merello.-paisaje_con_luna_rosa_y_estrellas_azules-(73x54cm)mixta_lienzo.jpg
http://www.modernart-painting.com/images/modern_art_paintings_21st.-.-merello.-_pietro_di_milano.jpg
I have to find it a bit
October 7, 2009 - 10:57 ET by DarasenI have to find it a bit ironic that Obama would have non representational art in the White House. Just like the his policies don't represent anything realistically. Come to think of it considering members of the House and Senate rarely actually represent the desires of their constituents I think I may just start referring to them as the Picaso Congress.
No Portraits?
October 7, 2009 - 11:04 ET by slickwillie2001Knowing the Bamster's problem with narcissism, I am surprised that there aren't portraits of the Bamster in the White House yet. Maybe some Soprano-like portraits on a horse like Napoleon. Maybe the derailment of the NEA put that off. I can see them putting up formal oil portraits in the public areas and some tasteful nudes on black velvet in the private quarters. Unicorns might be a bit much, but then that's just my opinion.
Ignorance of Art
October 7, 2009 - 12:18 ET by someloudthunderThe ignorance of art is astounding.
Why are people so relentless to modern art.
"Hurr there just a few squiggles and lines"
To you maybe. You could go to the Chicago Art Museum and say, "Oh I could have painted/drawn/made that" but the point is you didn't. You didn't have the initiate or idea to create that art. That's what makes it special.
And to the claim that any "wino" can become an artist is full bull. Again it takes a creative mind to be an artist.
Don't get me wrong I'm no liberal - not by any means but the way modern art gets treated makes me very angry.
I mean I don't understand WHY anyone would listen to Snoop Dogg but that doesn't mean his music isn't music.
I mean I don't understand
October 7, 2009 - 13:13 ET by dvdaughtryI mean I don't understand WHY anyone would listen to Snoop Dogg but that doesn't mean his music isn't music.
Very well could be music, but it doesn't change the fact that it sucks.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
Ummm
October 7, 2009 - 14:58 ET by oldmanateeI listen to Snoop. Not often, but I have a few songs on my iPod.
So, you might want to just drop that like it's hot. ;-)
I think the point of the article was saying that there is finally a person of culture in the White House. And a slam and anyone that didn't already know it. More media bias....
I'm sorry to hear and
October 7, 2009 - 15:03 ET by dvdaughtryI'm sorry to hear and thanks for the clarification of the article.
However, I was mostly just giving the over sensative artist above a good ribbing.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
Ignorance
October 7, 2009 - 18:10 ET by Mike76The "ignorance" of modern art is just astounding. Oh boy.
If you want to call someone smearing feces on a picture, say of Jesus, or a woman using her own abortions in a piece as "art," or to a lesser extent, something that to me, indeed does look like a wino did it, then you can call it art if you want. I guess, perhaps, since they have a "creative mind," perhaps you think that makes them an artist. That is certainly your prerogative.
I'm assuming there are plenty of people who will "ooh" and "ahh," and pay top dollar for it, and call it "breathtaking" and "pushing the boundaries of discourse" and so on.
Perhaps because, being the hillbilly yokel I am, I think of it as "crap." Now, there is abstract art I do like, but I guess the reason I like it, is because of the skill level and imagination I sense on the part of the artist, and the beauty or the uniqueness of the design. I don't see much of that in most modern art.
When I see MOST modern art, I think of the old PT Barnum phrase, "There's a sucker born every minute." Either that, or "The emperor isn't wearing any clothes."
But that's just my viewpoint, as I write this.