Visual Art Aug 24, 2011 at 4:00 am

Bluster & Bierstadt

Comments

1
"So-bad-they're-good-again," is quite a standard. Bierstadt is like a Bob Ross on steroids. Maybe more focused theme-wise. It is hard not to compare the show to the Gabriel von Max at the Frye--different painting subjects but a romantic obsession with the media of oil paint mixed with photos and curatorial stories about the culture of the times and just so much oil!

The SAM exhibit is so curious and disjointed. I can't say how tired I can get being confronted with such excess of this genre of painting. It's beautifully done but so terribly ubiquitous. I can respect the craft but my God! I guess the lesson we are to be taught by the curator must be respected to some degree. I have no problem with the presence of the Tennis work. It seems to somehow fit the spirit of the pioneer. But, as you seem to indicate, why not more of this kind of thing and why not integrate it into the whole show? It seems like a postscript. The most curious item--not mentioned by you--is the large green reproduction of the Matthew Offenbacher artist newsletter. What the heck is going on with this show and why is what is going on not more developed for the viewer? This seems such a clumsy show needing better curatorial definition.


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