"Over hung" show or "Hung over" critic?
I have never read an article by Post-Dispatch Visual Arts Critic David Bonetti. I have always heard they suck. However, I just learned he panned a show I enjoyed, "Exhibit at David Gallery is overhung, underwhelming". I decided to check it out. Wow, he sure gets grouchy if the pictures aren't hung just the way he likes them.Anyway, I though I might review his review.
No sooner than I started, I had to stop and look up "eponymous". Really, such osteutatious vernacular. Also, there are some cliches which should not be given the light of day. It is a boring roll call article without reason. The whole premise is based on a holy grail. Some divine order of hanging. This is fine, but what is it? If there are specific guidelines, what are they. To approach this would require a bare minimum of writing skill, but even so, has been left undone. Just how close can one hang a velvet Elvis next to a three Stooges poster?
The approach of his article is overwhelmingly one sided. This leads me to question his sincerity. Does he really believe all this? Could this be an honest mistake, born from the frustration of an impotent pen? Not buying it.
The bit about new trends traveling slowly in the river city is most telling of all. Treating art as pair of designer jeans, to be discarded with last years fashion. It is not that he "doesn't get it", he is clueless.
As any fool can see, it is easy to rip something. It is even fun when applied with wit. (obviously not the reason here) The greater challenge is to appraise good art in a meaningful way. The greater challenge is to find the positive. This is not simple. Much of what we see in art is not worthy of comment. My augument is that, if so, why bother. Time would be better spent looking to find something of value. Then write. "Don't criticize what you can't understand". Bob Dylan said that. "Don't be condescending to your superior" I said that. Wonder what Abraham Lincoln would say.
posted by Rob Miller @ 12:41 PM
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