A few years ago I was a volunteer guide at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Marc Mayer was the Director of the NGC and he was a great fellow as a director and very personable. He has an interesting background in Art, as a curator and art lover. Here is a short presentation on the 5 Fallacies about Art which is helpful to those who wish to appreciate art in its various forms. I find this presentation to be enlightening. These are some points I try to impart to visitors who come to the Gallery and who may not know how or have preconceived notions about art. Mayer debunks it all for us.
I was intrigued by his comments about skill. I bought a painting last year by a non-professional artist. Some of the artist’s gestures I don’t like, but as a whole the painting insists on my attention every time I walk by. I’ve asked myself many times if it’s a good work of art, and my answer seems to be: I like it, so what’s the difference.
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I have a great deal of respect for Mayer and having known him I learned a lot about art and how to look at it. Rejecting pre-conceived notions of society is a good first step. If the painting demands your attention then it is obviously having an effect on you. Is this not a good thing?
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Thank you for sharing this video.
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I thought you might enjoy this. Mayer was a great museum director
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