Almost All Institutions Own A Lot More

One Argument Goes That Recessions Are Good For Female Artists Because When Money Flies Out The Window, Women Are Allowed In The House. The Other Claims That When Money Ebbs, So Do Prospects For Women.

Put Yourself In The Position Of An Up-and-coming Artist Living In Early-sixteenth-century Italy. Now Imagine Trying To Distinguish Yourself From The Other Artists Living In Your Town: Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Or Titian. Is It Any Wonder That The Italian High Renaissance Lasted Only 30 Years?

Many Museums Are Drawing Audiences With Art That Is Ostensibly More Entertaining Than Stuff That Just Sits And Invites Contemplation. Interactivity, Gizmos, Eating, Hanging Out, Things That Make Noise - All Are Now The Norm, Often Edging Out Much Else.

A Sad Fact Of Life Lately At The Museum Of Modern Art Is That When It Comes To Group Shows Of Contemporary Painting From The Collection, The Bar Has Been Set Pretty Low.

I Am All For Art's Finding A Large Audience. But The Way That's Happening Now, With Big Works Filling Big Galleries And Bigger Shows, Is Mostly Stopping Statements From Being Made. Or Heard. Or Talked About. Or Really Examined. It's Watering Things Down.