Doodles + Noodles
On Digging Deeper + Keeping An Open Mind
When I was in college, my art history professor challenged me to give all art at least a fighting chance.
Dr. Gumm was one of my best professors. She held open office hours twice a week and encouraged her students to stop by, especially if we wanted to cuss and discuss art and/or artists. Once I realized no one else was taking her up on her offer, I showed up at least once a week to keep her company.
I’ve never met anyone more open to learning something new about art—or the world. Even when her first reaction to a piece wasn’t favorable, she still considered how and why someone might create such a work. She gave some art way more chances than I ever could or would. I admired her then. I still admire her now.
Back in the early ’90s, Dr. Gumm was a big fan of Cy Twombly. I was not. But I tried to stay open-minded. After over 30 years of trying, after having seen many examples of his work in person—including a visit to the Cy Twombly Gallery at The Menil Collection in Houston—I haven’t really changed my mind. So I think it’s safe to say his work is not my cup of tea.
(Side note: If you’re ever in Houston, The Menil Collection is absolutely worth a visit. Such a wonderful collection!)
Why did I keep trying to like Cy Twombly’s art for so long?
Well, Dr. Gumm thought highly of him, and I thought highly of her. She urged me to dig deeper and even tried pointing out our shared Southern and queer identities. I reminded her that as much as I enjoy eating biscuits, cocksucking, and scribbling, I consider them all to be artful at best. Not art. She laughed—loudly.
That said, thanks to Dr. Gumm, I have developed an appreciation for several artists, including Twombly, whose work I don’t particularly like. Why? Usually because they help provide connective tissue between artists and art styles I do like, if not love.
I guess my point is that art is thoroughly subjective—both in its appreciation and even its very definition. So my advice is to like what you like, and scroll and/or walk past the rest. When you have time, it can be fun to dig a little deeper and expand the way you see and celebrate the world.
Art and creativity aren’t meant to be homework, so enjoy them on your own terms!
Who else is feeling artsy-fartsy today?
Clint 🌈✌️
ON THIS DAY = MARCH 13
BIRTHDAYS
1825 = Hans Gude = Norwegian-German painter and academic
1886 = Home Run Baker = American baseball player and manager
1898 = Henry Hathaway = American director and producer
1908 = Walter Annenberg = American publisher, philanthropist, and diplomat
1921 = Al Jaffee = American cartoonist
1929 = Bill Cunningham = American fashion photographer 🌈
1939 = Neil Sedaka = American singer-songwriter
1944 = Armistead Maupin = American writer 🌈
1950 = William H. Macy = American actor, director, and screenwriter
1951 = Charo = Spanish-American singer, guitarist, and actor
1956 = Dana Delany = American actor and producer
1960 = Adam Clayton = English-Irish musician and songwriter
1970 = Tim Story = American director and producer
1971 = Annabeth Gish = American actor
1972 = Common = American rapper and actor
1985 = Emile Hirsch = American actor
1998 = Jack Harlow = American rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor
EVENTS
1877 = Chester Greenwood patents earmuffs after inventing them at age 15.
1956 = The Searchers is released in theaters.
1991 = Paris Is Burning is released in theaters.
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
National Earmuff Day (US)
National Elephant Day (Thailand)
PORTRAITS + QUOTES OF THE DAY
“Most of my pictures are never published. I just document things I think are important. For instance, I've documented the gay pride parade from its first days.”
Bill Cunningham
“My only regret about being gay is that I repressed it for so long. I surrendered my youth to the people I feared when I could have been out there loving someone. Don't make that mistake yourself. Life's too damn short.”
Armistead Maupin
I'm doing a lot of writing today so I guess I am feeling artsy-fartsy. However I am lost if I don't feel it often enough so I try to keep at it every day.
Exactly in every word. Interestingly this particular note from you follows my enthusiasm about your choice of the music accompanying your visual compilations. I have never been a connoisseur of jazz other than maybe Dixieland, Blues, and Honkytonk but somehow you manage to find pieces that I would never otherwise have given a listen and I am astonished to find that they are not only listenable but both extremely enjoyable and memorable, even somehow familiar though I can never figure out quite why or from where.