Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009. 1 pm. English class ended 35 minutes ago, and if I had it my way, I’d be on the train home. Alas, today was the last possible day to fulfill the Arts at Baruch workshop requirement (for those who have assessments on the 9th anyway), so I was at the Sidney Mishkin gallery instead, waiting to get inside. As usual, the crowds of fellow procrastinating freshmen were there. I waited patiently for the chance to get inside, and eventually, my patience was rewarded by an invitation into the gallery. The lines were long for a reason: this was a guided tour led by one person, and only ~20 people were being admitted in at a time. To further hasten the process, the tour only lasted ~15 minutes. That said, I learned quite a bit in those 15 minutes.
Mercedes Matter was an artist known for abstract art. I always used to equate “abstract art” with “BS”, but the guide put it into perspective for me in two ways: firstly, now that we have cameras, it is no longer necessary to paint realistically. Secondly, abstract art does have a style and recognizable images. She pointed out the fruits and table (Mercedes’ favorite subject) among the various colors and rough triangles. Abstract art is much better when you have someone more artistically inclined explain it to you. An “a-ha!” moment, so to speak. Looks like I am getting more than stamps out of these workshops.
-Richardson Antoine