INSIDE: Raleigh on Film; Bethune on Theatre; Behrens on Music; Seckel on Culture & Travel; Hendler on the Long Island Art Scene; Lille on Dance; Reviews: “Degas & Music” at The Hyde Collection; “Art & The River” at the Samuel Dorsky Museum; Speak Out: Donald A. Windsor on Art & Craft; Mark Callaghan on pleasures & dangers of mimesis; New Art Books; Short Fiction & Poetry; Extensive Calendar of Events…and more! ART TIMES Vol. 26 No. 2 September/October 2009 Travel and Culture Québec & Montréal By CORNelIA SecKel RAYMOND AND I had been thinking exhibition, thus engaging an even from what I can tell about going to Montréal and Québec larger population to come and view the it is limited to an City for several years and with all show. open studio tour of the other traveling and working for I have been speaking with Bev work — this year, ART TIMES a “vacation” wasn’t top Saunders of bjsartworks Framing work inspired by the of the list. So when we got a call from Gallery Studio at the Shirt Factory Hyde Collection’s Montréal Tourism about a visit to in Glens Falls for over a year and it Summer of Degas the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, was a pleasure to meet and see her and Music and takes I jumped at the chance not only to see excellent pastels as well as the work place August 1st & Montréal but also to visit Québec City. of the four other artists in her gallery/ 2nd — not unusual According to my mother I had been to frame shop before she gave me a tour for a group of creative Montréal as a 3-year-old and for about of the ‘factory’. We visited several people. For more three minutes I cried in frustration at of the over 40 studios that house information: http:// not being able to understand the other artists, craftspeople, photographers, www.shirtfactorygf. children then quickly adjusted and filmmakers, dance studios, the com began communicating as all children Adirondack Pastel Society (Bev We arrived do through play. was the co-founder), a co-op gallery in Québec City So off to Canada, stopping in and other art-related businesses. and stayed at the Glens Falls for a visit to The Hyde Classes are offered here for dance, delightful Hôtel Collection and the Shirt Factory. pottery, music, and art. Speaking with Le Priori www. Raymond has a review of the exhibit a few of the tenants, they spoke highly hotellepriori.com, at the Hyde collection, “Degas and of the atmosphere of working while just blocks from Music”, so I will only make a few having other creative people around to the St Lawrence comments. As the exhibit is about socialize with. I was able to meet Dave River. Outside of Degas and his relationship with music Francis, PSA, and see his excellent our window we could there was a small area blocked off pastels; Russell Serrianne and his see the watermarks where a slide show with images of the intricate sculptures made of wild grape (in rippled design painting and the information about the tendrils; Kirs Moss’s very different dark brick) of the St musicians that influenced the painting fabric art; and Adela Tavares’ large Lawrence tidewater were projected on a screen while portrait paintings. This was a working from 1600, 1700 and then 1800. Our first One of many Murals relating the history of Québec City to be found in Old Québec evening we explored the area around our hotel where many galleries, fine shops, part in the first expedition to go up restaurants and hotels were located. the St. Lawrence; and then thought Nearby were souvenir shops, more of establishing the future colony in restaurants, and many other stores Trois-Rivières (south of Québec City). with the work of local artists and Finally, during a new mission for the craftspeople. As we were within the purpose of establishing a residential walled city (Old Québec) there were base along the river, Champlain chose many historic murals, plaques and the detroit of Kebec (Québec) where he stories in the area. The St. Lawrence built his first house in July 1608. The River played a fundamental role in the St-Lawrence River is one of the most history of Canada and Québec. From important rivers in North America. Its the 17th century, the establishment source is the Great Lakes leading out of the fur trade marked a turning to a vast estuary and the Gulf of St. point in North America’s history. In Lawrence to finally empty itself into 1603 Samuel de Champlain took Continued on Page 10 CSS Publications, Inc. Support the Arts; The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, Montréal Canada PO Box 730 Enrich your Life Photo courtesy of the MFA Mt. Marion, NY 12456-0730 the music could be heard. This was shirt factory from the early 1900’s www.arttimesjournal.com 845-246-6944 a delightful audiovisual component though the 1980’s with four floors and to the exhibit. Music programs will large windows just perfect for an arts take place in the surrounding five community. There is an attempt to Subscribe to ART TIMES counties throughout the course of the have some artists’ organization but ART-LITERATURE-DANCE-MUSIC-EXHIBITIONS-THEATRE-FILM-ART-LITERATURE-DANCE-MUSIC Sept/Oct 2009 ART TIMES page 2 Peeks and Piques! ART TIMES AS TIME PASSES and the denigra- revered today precisely because they tweak McLuhan, the message is little Commentary and Resource for the Fine & Performing Arts tion and derision of academic prin- rose above the creator’s life and else than the message? Because, if ART TIMES (ISSN 0891-9070) is published bi- ciples in art are now de rigueur, it times. In his new book,* a condensed that’s all there is, my love, then let’s monthly by CSS Publications, Inc. with copies distributed along the Northeast Corridor primarily seems as if we get farther and farther philosophical treatise on the history keep dancin’ — for even that’s better throughout the Metropolitan and Hudson Valley away from any traces of beauty in of beauty, Roger Scruton notes in than gasping, recoiling, cringing and Regions, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jer- sey each month. Copies are also available by mail much of contemporary art. Anger, his chapter entitled ‘The Flight from groaning. If it may be argued that this to subscribers and arts organizations throughout outrage, and ridicule rule the day, art Beauty’ (pg. 169) that, according to new ‘art’ is meant to make us aware, the US and abroad. Copyright © 2009, CSS Publi- cations, Inc. being used as either a tool to bludgeon ‘The modernist apology’, “The repu- it seems a far cry from the ‘enlighten- Publisher: Cornelia Seckel the public into political correctness or diation of beauty gains strength from ment’ expected from art in days of Editor: Raymond J. Steiner as snide commentary on those still a particular vision of modern art and yore. What of those who look longingly Contributing Writers: committed to craftsmanship. Crude- its history. According to many critics back to those days of Bernard Beren- Henry P. Raleigh Robert W. Bethune ness, ugliness, brutality, coarseness, writing today a work of art justifies son’s “life enhancing” art? Are they to Ina Cole Dawn Lille Frank Behrens Francine L. Trevens garishness, silliness — all are lav- itself by announcing itself as a visi- be completely ignored, their tastes and Ginger Lee Hendler ishly and gleefully laid on in an effort tor from the future. The value of art preferences re-tooled to reflect current Subscription Rates: to shock, to make us take notice, to is a shock value: to remind us of the idiom? What happened to “a word to USA: $18 /1 year $34 /2years Foreign: $35 /1 year $45 /2 years cause us to reconsider our wayward ceaseless change which is the only the wise, etc.” instead of a deafening Contact for Print and Online Advertising Rates: courses. “Gasp!” “Cringe!” “Shudder!” permanent thing in human nature.” barrage of crudity and outrage bom- CSS Publications, Inc., PO Box 730, Mt. Marion, “Groan!” “Recoil!” “Cower!” are the OK. But then, why do we need cable barding our senses? Granted that NY, 12456. Phone or Fax (845) 246-6944; orders of the day. Oh, I know that news channels if we have to resort to we are not all wise — but when has email: [email protected] Web site: www.arttimesjournal.com serving a political or social agenda art to undermine our peace of mind, to mankind ever been so? Elsewhere in Deadline for Advertising is June 15 for Jul/Aug; had been practiced by the old masters constantly bring to our attention that his book, Scruton revisits those times Aug 15 for Sep/Oct; Oct 15 for Nov/Dec; Dec 15 for — but what makes Michelangelo’s we live in a despicable world full of when ‘Beauty’ used to be equated with Jan/Feb; Feb 15 for Mar/Apr; Apr 15 for May/Jun. Items for inclusion in the Calendar and Oppor- art ‘live’ today has little to do with despicable people? And how about the ‘Truth’ and “Goodness’. Have we re- tunities section must be emailed, mailed or faxed to his arguments with the Pope, and tabloids? Aren’t they filling us enough ally traveled so far in sophistication the ART TIMES office by the 12th of the preceding publication month. Email for guidelines. what makes Shakespeare’s tragedies with despair? So wait a minute, Mr. that we no longer need such outdated ART TIMES solicits short fiction and poetry — see continue to be relevant has little to Steiner, don’t you want to know what notions in our lives? As for me, ‘stuck our listing in Writer’s Market, Fiction Writer’s do with his feelings about Elizabe- the world is coming to? Why choose in time’ as I may be, I dearly miss Market, Poet’s Market and other trade magazines than rule — and need we mention to be the ostrich with his head in feeling uplifted by art.