At first I thought “ET Modern” was the name a new font. What delight to see ET work in an unfamiliar—intimate—space. Is that a cloud backdrop behind the serene Buddha? The Ad Reinhardt quote is a great introduction.
Wonderful! You must be very proud! Congratulations. Now, can you tell us the story of how this came to be?
[Response by ET, June 6, 2010: Dear Niels, These last 6 months have yielded some art world stories and theories that might surface in a nostalgic essay in 5 years. For now, I’m overwhelmed with New York, Washington, and my studio work. Cheers, ET
P.S. An informative guide is Don Thompson’s book, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art.]
Congratulations! This looks like a wonderful gallery and exhibit. I look forward to seeing it.
If I may suggest that you add information about the gallery to this thread. Also a simple one page webpage/website for the gallery could be helpful; listing the current exhibit, future exhibits, hours of the gallery, directions, etc – the basics.
Again congratulations on this project.
[Note added by ET, June 8, 2010: thanks, done, definitely a good idea to indicate when gallery is open!]
“ART IS ART” The question is…in whose opinion? Art, to me, is whatever comes from your innermost thoughts and how you express those ideas. It can take many forms and not everyone agrees with your interpretation. If it makes you happy with your effort…that is all that matters. Found this site from listening to the interview on NPR, Saturday, June 5, 2010. Interesting mind…would love to have lunch with this Edward Tufte.
[ET response added June 6, 2010:
The “ART IS ART” wrench is a reminder of Ad Reinhardt’s remark, “Art is art, and everything else is everything else,” an idea that I strongly agree with. Thus political art is often naive politics and not very good art. I have plenty of ideas about public policy and politics, but they do not find expression in my art but rather in actually working on public policy matters.
The other part of my “ART IS ART” wrench is that the piece sits ready in the museum/gallery in case someone asks about any piece “Is this art?” and I can point them to the wrench and say “Yes, it says so right here.” There are some other interpretations as well.]
Is there any way groups can come visit you in the gallery? I know I could get a good group off metafilter where you are something of a folk hero, see for example the comments in http://www.metafilter.com/tags/tufte I am looking forward to coming down in any event.
Best regards,
John Eckstein
[Note added by ET, June 6, 2010: Of course groups can visit. Hours are 11.00am to 6.00, Tuesday to Saturday. I will be at the museum/gallery on most Saturdays giving artist tours. Call ET Modern to find out details when you’re ready.]
I was graciously admitted for a sneak peek today while a few of the exhibits were being finished. The art is even more fascinating live than it is in the flatlands of the web and print. The specular motion of the engraved stainless steel should not be missed and I laughed with delight upon seeing the Airport Signal People suddenly animated after so many years.
[Note added by ET, June 8, 2010: Dave Nash is a distinguished Kindly Contributor to this board. Dave, sorry I missed, hope to see you there next time, glad you spotted the revision painting of the airport signalpeople, which I had worked with long ago in Envisioning Information.]
The “Art Is Art” comments remind me of something Frank Zappa once made when he said that the most important part of a painting is the frame, because it tells you where the wall stops and the art begins. It’s probably not an original quote, but amusing and insightful anyway.
Delightful to see such a fresh take – and to see ET’s sculpture shared so broadly. The dramatic
changes in scale and the quality of the surface are fascinating.
ET’s comment about gallery art which “…reveal the enormous multiplicity of optical experiences generated by three-dimensional sculptures residing in varying light.” prompts a question. As background, we’re developing a fresh food co-op in rural upstate New York. Store design within ca. 2,550 sq. ft. will be critical. Our retail offerings may not be sculpture or Art (pace Ad Reinhardt), but the discernment of intentionally placed and lit displays shares a relevance to “multiplicity of optical experiences” which, in our case, intends to convince a customer to purchase. My question is: What experiences on escaping flatland into such a three-dimensional public space as a store (or gallery) could ET share?
Note added by ET, August 4, 2010: See what Whole Foods or Trader Joes does.
Very interesting to see how your sculpture has developed since the early 80’s. The eighth picture above especially echoes the concepts in “Visual Display of Quantitative Information” in its simplicity and rhythm. Do these pieces have names(that would help with continuity of comments)?
We came upon your new gallery by chance on Saturday and were blown away. So great to see some of this work in
person. Really impressive variety of mediums and excellent installation.
At first I thought “ET Modern” was the name a new font. What delight to see ET work in an unfamiliar—intimate—space. Is that a cloud backdrop behind the serene Buddha? The Ad Reinhardt quote is a great introduction.
Congratulations!
Wonderful! You must be very proud! Congratulations. Now, can you tell us the story of how this came to be?
[Response by ET, June 6, 2010: Dear Niels, These last 6 months have yielded some art world stories and theories that might surface in a nostalgic essay in 5 years. For now, I’m overwhelmed with New York, Washington, and my studio work. Cheers, ET
P.S. An informative guide is Don Thompson’s book, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art.]
Congratulations! This looks like a wonderful gallery and exhibit. I look forward to seeing it.
If I may suggest that you add information about the gallery to this thread. Also a simple one page webpage/website for the gallery could be helpful; listing the current exhibit, future exhibits, hours of the gallery, directions, etc – the basics.
Again congratulations on this project.
[Note added by ET, June 8, 2010: thanks, done, definitely a good idea to indicate when gallery is open!]
Inspired.
Sights to behold for those of us who believe life imitates art.
“ART IS ART” The question is…in whose opinion? Art, to me, is whatever comes from your innermost thoughts and how you express those ideas. It can take many forms and not everyone agrees with your interpretation. If it makes you happy with your effort…that is all that matters. Found this site from listening to the interview on NPR, Saturday, June 5, 2010. Interesting mind…would love to have lunch with this Edward Tufte.
[ET response added June 6, 2010:
The “ART IS ART” wrench is a reminder of Ad Reinhardt’s remark, “Art is art, and everything else is everything else,” an idea that I strongly agree with. Thus political art is often naive politics and not very good art. I have plenty of ideas about public policy and politics, but they do not find expression in my art but rather in actually working on public policy matters.
The other part of my “ART IS ART” wrench is that the piece sits ready in the museum/gallery in case someone asks about any piece “Is this art?” and I can point them to the wrench and say “Yes, it says so right here.” There are some other interpretations as well.]
Hello ET,
Apologies for abusing the comment form.
Is there any way groups can come visit you in the gallery? I know I could get a good group off metafilter where you are something of a folk hero, see for example the comments in http://www.metafilter.com/tags/tufte I am looking forward to coming down in any event.
Best regards,
John Eckstein
[Note added by ET, June 6, 2010: Of course groups can visit. Hours are 11.00am to 6.00, Tuesday to Saturday. I will be at the museum/gallery on most Saturdays giving artist tours. Call ET Modern to find out details when you’re ready.]
I was graciously admitted for a sneak peek today while a few of the exhibits were being finished. The art is even more fascinating live than it is in the flatlands of the web and print. The specular motion of the engraved stainless steel should not be missed and I laughed with delight upon seeing the Airport Signal People suddenly animated after so many years.
[Note added by ET, June 8, 2010: Dave Nash is a distinguished Kindly Contributor to this board. Dave, sorry I missed, hope to see you there next time, glad you spotted the revision painting of the airport signalpeople, which I had worked with long ago in Envisioning Information.]
The “Art Is Art” comments remind me of something Frank Zappa once made when he said that the most important part of a painting is the frame, because it tells you where the wall stops and the art begins. It’s probably not an original quote, but amusing and insightful anyway.
I thought I was too old to find any art interesting. Thank you for reviving my life.
Delightful to see such a fresh take – and to see ET’s sculpture shared so broadly. The dramatic
changes in scale and the quality of the surface are fascinating.
ET’s comment about gallery art which “…reveal the enormous multiplicity of optical experiences generated by three-dimensional sculptures residing in varying light.” prompts a question. As background, we’re developing a fresh food co-op in rural upstate New York. Store design within ca. 2,550 sq. ft. will be critical. Our retail offerings may not be sculpture or Art (pace Ad Reinhardt), but the discernment of intentionally placed and lit displays shares a relevance to “multiplicity of optical experiences” which, in our case, intends to convince a customer to purchase. My question is: What experiences on escaping flatland into such a three-dimensional public space as a store (or gallery) could ET share?
Note added by ET, August 4, 2010: See what Whole Foods or Trader Joes does.
Very interesting to see how your sculpture has developed since the early 80’s. The eighth picture above especially echoes the concepts in “Visual Display of Quantitative Information” in its simplicity and rhythm. Do these pieces have names(that would help with continuity of comments)?
http://archidose.blogspot.com/
We came upon your new gallery by chance on Saturday and were blown away. So great to see some of this work in
person. Really impressive variety of mediums and excellent installation.
Thanks for sharing with NYC.
Greg