Once again stopped work on the urban scene "The Heights" following a visit to the National Gallery in Washington DC on "Boxing Day," 2016. This work is very nearly a knee-jerk reaction to some of the works I saw in the East Wing. I was struck (as always) by the accomplished and respected modern masters, and equally by a number of largely mediocre pieces recently collected.
Generally speaking, I believe the National Gallery is charged with collecting works that can widely be appreciated. There is a body of "new" work that seems to have arrived because the artist was a friend of someone on the acquisition committee. There really is no other explanation because the quality of the art is shabby. Returning to the "Mainland" has been an eye-opener. True accomplishment and worth is superseded by toadyism and mediocrity.But enough crying and whining. The final product now for sale and on display at Gallery 57 in Mosaic District is much more that a stunning exercise in surface tension.
I am currently working on a follow up piece (48 x 32) that I initially thought of calling "Vistas and Canyons," but have now decided to go with my initial title: "Lost Horizons." Should have that completed and in Gallery 57 before the end of April.