A short anecdote + unavoidable name-drop:
In the late 1970s I found myself standing with Richard Diebenkorn at an exhibition at the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA). (I think it was Richard’s 1977 show of Paintings and Drawings, but I don’t remember exactly.) While we were standing and chatting, a woman strode up to us, butted into our conversation, and demanded of Richard, “Are you the artist? What’s your name?” He answered her. “How do you spell that?” Richard spelled his name for her. “Never heard of you,” replied the woman curtly, and stalked off.
We were both in shock, and looked at one another with an unspoken understanding: “Oh my God, here we are in the crazy art world – let’s get outta here!” Richard had to finish working the room, but I was happy to make my exit.
Art openings are exhilarating, powerful cultural events and can bring wonderful results, but man, they are hard work for the artist – one never knows who or what you’ll run into!
I love receptions for about 20 minutes saying ‘hi’ to folks before retreating back into my jammies.
I go later to see the work.
Diebenkorn makes beautiful thought provoking work.
So do you.
Beautiful painting.