The posts so far:
Lean Times
Lean Times
Updated 1.6.12
The intro below is how I opened the post and the challenge. That challenge is now over, as each entry has been identified as being Art or Not art--or in two instances, an I don't know and Maybe respectively. We didn't have a clear winner but we did have a Top Five, with four others who got the trickiest one right. Click here for the top responders--and scroll down for the answers. (Keep an eye out in a couple of weeks for A Good Eye, the post which will include the work of our most perceptive responders.)
.
OK, art professionals, start your engines. It's time to test your esthetic acuity and visual perception in my annual blog challenge, Art? Or Not Art? Last year there was a lot of trash, real and perceived, so I tweaked the title. This year you just have to determine whether it's art or not. Caveat: There's also an I don't know and a maybe in this collection. (Comment section is now closed to new responses, but you can see the answers.)
1. Art
Pulling back to show you the entire installation and the title:
. . . . . . . .
2. Not art
(We had six art, a maybe and a possibly. Some of these fence tarps were pretty great, as you saw in the Miami Roundup)
. . . . . . . .
3. Art
Anna Betbeze at Kate Werble Gallery, New York City, at NADA
(You also saw her work in the Stuff post, at the Materialism show at OHWOW gallery. I think it's gutsy, and I'm not alone. Jerry Saltz gave Betbeze an Honorable mention in picks for New York Magazine's The Year in Art.)
. . . . . . . .
4. Art
Tony Matelli, stainless steel and paint, at Leo Koenig Gallery, New York, at NADA
Here's another view:
. . . . . . . .
5. Art
Here's the info and installation view:
Greg Haberny, at Lyons Weir Gallery, New York, at Aqua Art
. . . . . . . .
6. Art
Ugo Rondinone, work of cast bronze and paint, at Sadie Coles Gallery, London, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
7. Art
Here's the info and installation view:
Unidentified artist at MKG 129, Toronto, at NADA. (And please don't ask me about that black-hooded figure. It really creeps me out, like the demon child of the KKK and the Grim Reaper)
. . . . . . . .
8. Art
Martin Boyce, Untitled, steel, screws, powder-coated aluminum, at Modern Institute/Toby Webster, London, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
9. Not art
It's the emergency fire hose at the Miami Convention Center. But you knew that.
10. Not art
Also at the Miami Convention Center
11. Art
J.J. Peet at Opn Stellar Rays, New York, at NADA
. . . . . . . .
12. Art
Jason Loebs, Essex Gallery, New York, at NADA
. . . . . . . .
13. Art
Here's the info and installation view:
Efthis Patsourakis at Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
14. I don't know
I don't think so. And just as I was thinking, "That's not art, is it?" I overheard a fairgoer pretty much echo my words aloud as he said to his companion, "Is it or isn't it?" So let's assume No. But any answer--yes, no, I don't know or maybe will work here--and of the 52 responses, three were yes and one was maybe).
Pulling back for the longer view: See it, just to the left of the Dan Christensen painting?
. . . . . . . .
15. Art
A handful of you got this. Here's the info and installation view:
José Parlà , Espanola Way, 2011; wood cement, steel, latex and enamel, at the Materialism show at OHWOW
. . . . . . . .
16. Not art
But I photographed it just around the corner from Espanola Way
. . . . . . . .
17. Not art
But at least 20 of you thought it was. It's an electrical cord bundle at NADA.
. . . . . . . .
18. Art
Joanna Malinowska, In Search of Primordial Matter, 2011, washing machine on perpetual spin cycle, at Canada Gallery, New York City, NADA
. . . . . . . .
19. Not art
It's the scissor lift at the Rubell Collection. You know your "Not Art." No one called it art, though there was one maybe and another no, but love the composition
. . . . . . . .
20. Not art
It's the cleaning cart just outside the Women's restroom at the Deauville Hotel, site of NADA.
We had a yes and a love it, but no
. . . . . . . .
21. Art
An installation by Elmgren and Dragsett at Helga de Alvear Gallery, Madrid, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
22. Art
Roula Partheniou, Tape Stacks, wood, acrylic paint, at MKG 127, Toronto, at Nada
. . . . . . . .
23. Not art
It's a functioning door. But I love that square of cloth tacked onto the upper half
. . . . . . . .
24. Art
Artist unidentified at Steve Turner Contemporary, San Francisco, at Aqua Art
Your responses were split pretty much down the middle with this one, with a few maybe and one could be, but why?
. . . . . . . .
25. Art
Gao Rong, foam, cloth and embroidery, at Eli Klein Gallery, Art Miami
. . . . . . . .
26. Art
Christian Andersson, Beam, glass, silicone, paint, wood, at Christina Guerra Contemporary Art, Lisbon, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
27. Art
Russell Maltz, painted pipe, at TK Gallery, at Pulse
. . . . . . . .
28. Art
Armando Andrada Tudela (I think) at Carl Freedman Gallery, London, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
29. Art
Karla Black at Capitain/Petzel, Cologne/New York, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
30. Art
Artist unidentified at West Street Gallery, New York, at NADA
. . . . . . . .
31. Art
Artist unidentified at Meesen DeClerq, Brussells, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
32. Art
John Stoney, Corner Piece #4, at Pierogi, Brooklyn, at Seven
. . . . . . . .
33. Not art
But it does have a Scully-esque je ne sais quois.
Here's the pull-away view:
. . . . . . . .
34. Art
Peter Fischli and David Weiss, painted urethane, at Matthew Marks, New York, at ABMB
. . . . . . . .
35. Not art
Nicely maintained, though
. . . . . . . .
36. Art
Nici Jost, Balzer Art Projects, Basel, Switzerland, at Pulse
Now if that square of sod had only been from Basel . . .
. . . . . . . .
37. "Maybe"
I asked the woman who was painting the advertising mural outside the Pyke Bros. autobody shop: "Would you call this art?" Maybe, she said. We got a mixed bag here: art, not art and maybe, along with my favorite: folk art
Next Up: Pulse
Big thanks to everyone who sent me to Miami. I am most appreciative of your help. To all my other friends reading and enjoying my coverage of the Miami art fairs , I'd welcome your financial support. I am a painter with a full-time studio practice; every post represents a significant expenditure of time, travel, photo editing, and writing, especially in December when my effort is focused exclusively on these reports from the fairs. A one-time annual donation of $20 (though any amount is welcome) will help support my effort. See the Donate button on the sidebar. Thank you.
53 comments:
Here goes--
1. Not
2. Not
3. Art
4. Art
5. Not
6. Art
7. Art
8. Art
9. Not
10.Not
11.Not
12.Not
13.Art
14.Not
15.Not
16.Not
17.Not
18.Art
19.Not
20.Not
21.Not
22.Not
23.Not
24.Not
25.Art
26.Art
27.Not
28.Art
29.Art
30.Art
31.Art
32.Art
33.Not
34.Art
35.Not
36.Not
37.Not
I like #16 and #26. I would never purchase any of this rubbish.
Thank you, Anon 11:20. As a result of your comments--and I suspect you were also the person who left negative remarks at the Eva Hesse Post just now (the curmudgeonly tone gives you away)--I will no longer publish negative anonymous comments. Negative comments ARE welcome, but if you want to see them posted, you have to own up to them. I'm not anonymous. If you want a dialog with me and/or what I'm doing, identify yourself.
Sorry, I'm in a bad mood and should'nt have taken it out on the art. I did not leave the Eva Hesse comment.
well, I'll make a try.
1. not art
2. not art
3. art
4. art
5. not art
6. not art
7. art
8. art
9. not art
10. not art
11. art
12. art
13. art
14. not art
15. not art
16. not art
17. art
18. art
19. not art
20. not art
21. not art
22. not art
23. not art
24. not art
25. art
26. art
27. not art
28. art
29. art
30. art
31. art
32. art
33. art
34. art
35. not art
36. art
37. art
dang, alright - I have to say being there does NOT help, because I only noticed three of these and they're pretty obvious anyways (the kaz oshiro, the karla black and another) - I know I say this in every post but it is still so weird to me how everyone takes away such a different experience of the fairs, which is the best argument I can think of to direct a person to actually go and see the fairs in person at least once, and yet some people still think of the fairs as overcrowded parties and not an opportunity to see a vast array of new work conveniently laid out for your viewing pleasure? that viewpoint literally makes NO sense to me. OK so here goes:
art: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 18 (kaz oshiro?), 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 (karla black), 30, 31, 32, 34, 36,
not art: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 27, 33, 35,
maybe: 37
and if I do get it right, since I did have a bit of an advantage I'd like to abdicate the prize to the next runner up or maybe get a review of brent hallard's show at Brooklyn Artists Gym, since you probably saw it and it would be to your taste anyways?
1. Not
2. Not
3. not
4. not
5. Not
6. not
7. not
8. not
9. Not
10.Not
11.Not
12.Not
13.not
14.Not
15.Not
16.Not
17.Not
18.not
19.Not
20.Not
21.Not
22.Not
23.Not
24.Not
25.not
26.not
27.Not28.not
29.not
30.not
31.not
32.not
33.Not
34.not
35.Not
36.Not
37.Not
Okay, I'll try...
1. Not
2. Art
3. Art
4. Not
5. Not
6. Art
7. Art
8. Not
9. Not
10. Not
11. Not
12. Art
13. Art
14. Art
15. Not
16. Art
17. Art
18. Art
19. Not
20. Not
21. Art
22. Not
23. Not
24. Art
25. Art
26. Art
27. Not
28. Art
29. Art
30. Art
31. Art
32. Art
33. Not
34. Not
35. Not
36. Art
37. Art
I didn't get to go this time so these are super guesses:
1.Not
2. NOt
3. Art
4. Art
5. Art
6. Don't Know
7. Art
8. Art
9. No
10. No
11. Art
12. Maybe
13. Art
14. Not
15. Art
16. Not
17. Art
18. Art
19. Not
20. Not
21. Art
22. Art
23. Not
24. Art.
5. Art
56. Art
27. Not
28. Art
29. Art
30. Art
31. Art
32. Art
33. Not
34. Art
35. Not
36. Art
37. Not
1. maybe
2.maybe
3.art
4.definitely art
5.maybe
6.art
7.art
8.art
9.might as well be art
10art.
11.no
12.no
13art
14.art
15.art
16.art
17.art
18not
19.could be
20.why not?
21.art-too neat to be real
22.could be, but why?
23. " " " "
24. " " " "
25. " " " "
26. " " " "
27. " " " "
28. " " " "
29 " " " "
30. " " " "
31. art
32 finally, good art
I give up here. yes and no not adequate. Sure some art exhibited as art, but in photos, maybe doesn't look like art.
Thanks Joanne for your efforts.
Bascha Mon
Oh dear. Call me retro or call me clueless (with reason) but none of them look like art to me. Some I definitely thought were trash but then, on second look, or third look could not decide. Obviously I am not the audience for this kind of art. Give me Joanne's gorgeous pieces or an Eva Hesse piece of two. I'm not picky! But these have me completely stymied.
Ai ai ai. I'm printing my lists and checking them twice. There's gonna be a lot of lists.
Yes to all of the above because it's photography but if the question was, do I like it? The answers would be not really. I'm one of those that likes what I consider lovely art.
Art: 2,3,4,7,8,11,15,17,18,21,23,25,26,28,29,30,31,32,34,36,37
Not:
1,5,9,10,12,13,14,16,19,20,22,27,33,
35
Maybe: 6
I don't know: 24
Here goes nothin':
Art: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 18, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37
Maybe: 6
Don't Know: 12
Not Art: 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 33, 34, 35
OK, I'll take a stab at it. This is tough! (But fun!)
1. not
2. not
3. art
4. art
5. not
6. not
7. art
8. art
9. not
10. not
11. not
12. not
13. art
14. not
15. not
16. not
17. art
18. art
19. not
20. not
21. art
22. not
23. not
24. art
25. art
26. art
27. not
28. art
29. art
30. art
31. art
32. art
33. not
34. art
35. not
36. art
37. art (if a billboard counts as art)
1. Not
2. Not
3. Art
4. Art
5. Not
6. Not, but I like it
7. Not
8. Art
9. Not
10.Not
11.Not
12.Not
13.Art
14.Not
15.Art
16.Art
17.Not
18.Art
19.Not
20.Not
21.Not
22.Not
23.Not
24.Art
25.Art
26.Not
27.Not
28.Art
29.Art
30.Art
31.Art
32.Art
33.Not
34.Art
35.Not
36.Art
37.Not
It is sad that it has come to this.
even post-modern artist don't know what art is. I know you poking fun at the situation, and some of the images do make you laugh, but kind of in a sad way.
Art - 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36.
Not Art - 2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 33, 34, 35.
Not sure - 37.
1.No
2.No
3.Yes
4.Yes
5.No
6.No
7.No
8.Yes
9.No
10.No
11.Yes
12.No
13.Yes
14.No
15.No
16.No
17.Yes
18.No
19.No
20.-22No
23.Yes
24.Yes
25.No
26.Yes
27.No
28.Yes
29.Yes
30.Yes
31. Yes
32. Yes
33. No
34.Yes
35.No
36. No
37. Yes
OK, throwing my hat in the ring. Regrettably, I did not go. Here's mine:
Art- 1,2(possible David Hammons), 3 (Anna Betbeze), 4, 7, 8, 13, 18, 21 (I think of Matthew Barney, but probably not), 22, 24, 25(possibly Do Ho Suh), 26(possibly Tony Tasset), 28, 29, 30, 31, 32(possibly Robert Smithson, though probably a riff on him), 34, 36
Not Art- 9 (nicely photographed though), 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 33, 35, 37(but arty)
Not sure- 5, 6, 11, 12, 23, 27
I will vote tomorrow. For now, I like 17, 23 and 25, art or not.
Folks: I know. This is hard. It's supposed to be. But please refrain from identifying whom you think the artist is. I want Contender #99 to have as even a chance as Contender #1.
I'm purposely not saying who's warm, who's cool, who's thisclose.
ok, here goes, tho sometimes my own view sneaks in.
1.not
2.art
3.art
4.art
5.art
6.not
7.art'
8.art
9.not
10.art maybe
11.art
12/not
13.art
14.not
15.not
16. maybe
17.art
18.art
19.not
20.not
21.art
22.not maybe
23.art
24. art maybe
25.not
26.art
27.not
28.art
29.art
30.art
31.art
32.art
33.not
34.art
35.not
36.art
37.folk art
Bonny Leibowitz
1. Art
2. Art
3. Art
4. Art
5. Art
6. Not
7. Art
8. Art
9. Not
10.Not
11.Not
12.Not
13.Art
14.Not
15.Not
16.Not
17.Art
18.Art
19.Not
20.Not
21.Art
22.Not
23.Art
24.Art
25.Art
26.Art
27.Not
28.Art
29.Art
30.Art
31.Art
32.Art
33.Not
34.Art
35.Not
36.Art
37.Not
no:1,5,6,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,19,20,22,27,33,35
yes:2,3,4,7,8,13,18,21,24,25,26,28,29,30,31,34,36,37
Maybe: 23
I don't know: 32
I do not believe any of them are art.
http://artornot.info/
1. yes
2. no
3. yes
4-8. yes
9. no
10. no
11. yes
12. no
13. yes
14. no
15. no
16. yes
17-18. yes
19. no
20. no
21. yes
22. no
23. yes
24-26. yes
27. no
28-32. yes
33. no
34. yes
35. no
36. yes
37. no, but yes, should count as a no.
Happy Holidays,
Stef
going out on a limb and guessing it is a trick question: ALL are art. (some might be art-photography.) even though i AM suspicious of the circuit breaker poxes and the scizor lift.
Thanks for the terrific coverage, Joanne! I'm just going to observe. Love the range of art to non.
Happy solstice.
Lynette
Actually just by framing the images in the way that you did, they have all became art. So it is all art!
sorry to be negative but it all looks like someone was cleaning out an old apartment house. The mystery and romance of art has been upstaged by the facile and the gimmick! just holding this quiz shows you agree.
Wow, Joanne, I think this is the toughest one yet! I need some time.... but what does this say about ART these days?
My best guesses at this year's crop...
Art - 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 37
Maybe Art - 27
I-don't-know Art - 14
Not Art - 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 31, 33, and 35
In a couple cases, I thought I was seeing things that could be containing art, like partially unpacked crates or such - in those cases, I counted them as Not Art.
Art: 3, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 36
Not Art: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 30, 33, 35, 37
Matt Holroyd. Love things like this, be surprised if anyone gets them all..
art= 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,11,13,15,16,17,21,23,24,25(love this art or not),26,28,29,30,31,32,34,(35 id say both are art36),37
not art=1,6,10,12,14,18,19,20,22,25,27,33,
Hmmm...this is why I tell people I am a painter and not an artist. I know what a painting is. I don't know what art is...or is not.
Hmmm...this is why I tell people I am a painter and not an artist. I know what a painting is. I don't know what art is...or is not.
I wonder if enough people vote one way, does that determine whether it actually is art or not..?
1.Not
2.Not
2.Art
4.Art
5. Art
6. Not
7. Art
8. Art
9. Not
10. Not
11. Not
12. Art
13. Art
14. Not
15. Not
16. Art
17. Not
18. Art
19. Not
20. Not
21. Art
22. Not
23. Art
24. Not
25. Art
26. Art
27. Not
28. Art
29. Art
30. Art
31. Art
32. Art
33. Not
34. Art
35. Not
36. Art
37. Maybe
Here goes:art - 2,3,4,5,,13,15,17,1822,23,24,25,26,28,29,30,31,32,34,36,37
not-1,6,9,11,12,14,16,19,20,21,27,33,35
Thanks for doing something rather fun with these photos!
My yes it is art:
3 4 5 6 7 8 11 16 17 18 21 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32 34 36 37
NO, it is not art:
1 2 9 10 12 14 19 20 22 27 33 35
hey... maybe it is art???:
13 15
That is my guess... good one, Joanne!
1. Not
2. Not
3. Art
4. Art
5. Not
6. Not
7. Art
8. Art
9. Not
10. Not
11. Art
12. Not
13. Art
14. Not
15. Not
16. Not
17. Not
18. Art
19. Not
20. Not
21. I don't know
22. Art
23. Not
24. Not
25. Not
26. Art
27. Not
28. Art
29. Art
30. Art
31. Art
32. Art
33. Not
34. Art
35. Not
36. Art
37. Maybe
I love this! But I agree with Norman Engel that you've photographed the "not art" so well that it's become art. But here goes anyway...
Not Art:
1
2
5
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
19
20
22
24
27
33
35
Art:
3
4
6
7
8
13
17
18
21
23
25
26
28
29
30
31
32
34
36
37
Here goes.
Art: 2,3,4,5,8,13,15,16,18,21,23,25,26,28,29,30,31,32,36,37
Not: 1,6,9,10,11,12,14,17,19,20,22,24,27,33,35
I don't know/maybe: 7,34
Yes for: 2,3,4,5,7,10,11,13,18,21,23,24,25,26,28,29,30,31,32,34,36 and 37 (in its own sort of way)
Maybe for:
1 and 27.
No for:
6,8,9 but wish it was a yes,12,14,15 and 16 love them but no,17,19 is a no but love the composition, 20,22,33love it but no, 35 no but if you shot the trees it would have been a yes.
Art: 3,4,6,8,11,13,17,18,21,23,24,25,26,28,29,30,31,32,34,36
Maybe: 22,37
I Don't Know: 7
Not Art: 1,2,5,9,10,12,14,15,16,19,20,27,33,35
Still say, as I did last year, that it all depends on too many variables to say definitively yes or no from a picture,anything CAN be art if someone says it is, but still its great fun and Ill play... so here goes...
1-No
2-Yes
3-Yes
4-No
6-Yes
6-Yes
7-Yes
8-No
9-I dont know but it is beautiful
10-Yes
11-Yes
12-Yes
13-yes
14-Yes
15-Yes
16-No
17-Yes
18-No, maybe
19-No
10-No
21-No
22-N
23-Yes
24-Yes
25-No
26-Yes
27-No
28-Yes
29-Yes
30-Yes
31-Yes
32-No
33-Yes
34-No
35-No
36-Maybe
37-Yes
2
OK ... here are mine:
1. Art
2. Not
3. Art (?)
4. Art
5. Not (?)
6. Art
7. Not
8. Art
9. Not
10.Not
11.Not
12.Not
13.Art
14.Not
15.Not
16.Not
17.Art
18.Art
19.Not
20.Not
21.Not
22.Not
23.Art
24.Art
25.Art
26.Art
27.Not
28.Art
29.Art
30.Art
31.Art
32.Art
33.Not
34.Art
35.Not
36.Art
37.Not
Hi Joanne, this is fun!
1-not art
2-not art
3-art
4-art
5-art
6-not art
7-not art
8-art
9-not art
10-not art
11-art
12-not art
13-art
14-not art
15-art
16-art
17-art
18-art
19-not art
20-not art
21-art
22-art
23-art
24-art
25-art
26-art
27-not art
28-art
29-art
30-art
31-art
32-art
33-not art
34-art
35-not art
36-art
37-art
I agree that some are so interestingly photographed, that if they are not "art"...I'd still want #'s 9 and 25...I'm with Matt. Will be surprised if someone gets them all...
Art:3,4,5,6,7,11,13,18,23,25,26,28,29,30,31,32,34,
36.
Not Art:1,2,9,10,12,14,15,16,17,19,20,21,22,24,33,35,37,
Maybe/don't know:8,27
1. Not
2. Not
3. Art
4. Not
5. Not
6. Art
7. Not
8. Art
9. Not
10. Not
11. Not
12. Not
13. Art
14. Not
15. Not
16. Not
17. Not
18. Art
19. Not
20. Not
21. Art
22. Not
23. Art
24. Art
25. Not
26. Art
27. Not
28. Art
29. Art
30. Art
31. Art
32. Art
33. Not
34. Art
35. Not
36. Art
37. Not
Your last FB post enticed me to join in...
1 not
2 not
3 art
4 art
5 not
6 not
7 art
8 art
9 not
10 not
11 not
12 not
13 art
14 not
15 not
16 not
17 art
18 art
19 not
20 not
21 not
22 not
23 art
24 not
25 not
26 art
27 not
28 art
29 art
30 art
31 art
32 art
33 not—but it is beautiful
34 art
35 not
36 not
37 not
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