Vinalhaven is a member of the fox islands and is named after the Vinal family who had historical importance there. It's such a small island that every passing vehical will acknowledge you and yours with an easy wave which is invariably returned in kind, to the point that some folks call it Wavin' Haven. The ever expanding mythos of the property where I stay now includes an early habitation of the cabin by the mixly reviewed Mr Hartley. The above picture "ugly landscape" is a fine representation of the never changing rugged shoreline meeting the forever changing sea and sky. Hartley is considered a patron saint in these parts. The newest long term artist in residence is Robert Indiana. He too has glommed onto MH and made a tribute print series in H's honor. Indiana however is not so highly looked upon since getting popped with a same sex underager from the mainland.
I suppose it makes sense that the pederast popster should identify with Hartley; what do the down-easterners make of MH's orientation? Hartley reminds me a bit of Robert Morris in recent times, trying on every trendy idea in town, and talking a better picture than he paints. Here and there are some worthwhile works, but the oeuvre remains problematic. The landscapes always look too sub-Cézanne for my taste. Early Modernism abounds in willful crudity and anti-virtuosity, but Hartley never transcends it the way the great Europeans like Picasso and Matisse did. Interestingly, his friend Demuth produced uniquely elegant and refined works out of the same second-hand Cubo-futurism. Did I mention how much I like Demuth? (For that matter, I like Robert Morris better than Hartley, and Indiana too, punk pumping aside.)
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- bill 9-06-2001 9:41 pm
I suppose it makes sense that the pederast popster should identify with Hartley; what do the down-easterners make of MH's orientation? Hartley reminds me a bit of Robert Morris in recent times, trying on every trendy idea in town, and talking a better picture than he paints. Here and there are some worthwhile works, but the oeuvre remains problematic. The landscapes always look too sub-Cézanne for my taste. Early Modernism abounds in willful crudity and anti-virtuosity, but Hartley never transcends it the way the great Europeans like Picasso and Matisse did. Interestingly, his friend Demuth produced uniquely elegant and refined works out of the same second-hand Cubo-futurism. Did I mention how much I like Demuth? (For that matter, I like Robert Morris better than Hartley, and Indiana too, punk pumping aside.)
- alex 9-06-2001 11:07 pm [add a comment]
There is a fire station on the south side of east 14th st w/ a print of gold no. 5 hanging in plain sight for all passers by. I think because it is station house number five or does the five in the painting refer to engine, engine no. 5 ?
- bill 9-07-2001 5:05 am [add a comment]