The Easel

3rd July 2018

A New Met Exhibit Shows That Mark Rothko Made Paintings As Good As The Quilts Of Gee’s Bend

Where does vernacular art – like quilt making – fit in the art world? Should it be compared directly to mainstream art? Or, does it belong in its own category, such as “outsider art”. Categorization seems beside the point if mainstream and self-taught artists have “converged on compositional commonalities that make many people’s eyes respond in equivalent ways.”

Revised Frick expansion clears Landmarks but still faces challenges

Finally, after multiple plans and years (decades) of trying, New York’s beloved Frick Collection has an approved renovation. Notably, the contentious removal of its garden that undermined the previous plan has been abandoned. Advocates describe the latest plan as “respectful”; to one opponent it’s “a vote for blandness”. Law suits could be next.