thatmikeguy

from comments in Juliana's journal... don't feel like typing up another review of the show last night ; )

"I'm still working through my rejection of his (chagall's) craftsmanship. I went last night with the mind of trying to be open to it and relax all of my critical artist thinking, but alas I still have not been able to get where you are. I did appreciate the work he did right after he got married and while he was living with his wife. Le Apparition (large predominately blue painting with an obvious cubist influence), and a couple of others in the room with it that I can't remember the names of. Of course, the only reason I was able to appreciate them was probably because the demonstrated some skill as an artisan. It's a problem I guess.

Actually, it's not hard for me to appreciate his work for being what it is... I guess I've just always had a hard time with primitivism/childlike art. I can appreciate it's importance in a philosophical sense, but I have a hard time seeing it in a gallery. I guess because I have such respect for the skills of the artisan. I feel like incredible art is the combination of great philosophy and great artisanship. If you lose the artisanship (I may be making up that word ; ) I just think you have visual philosophy... which is wonderful and important and all, but I feel like there are SO many artists who have high levels of both, so it confuses me when artists like Chagall get such recognition as artists.

Anyway... it was a good exhibit, and gave a great progression of his work. I would definitely recommend it, just working through my issues ; )"