ART IMITATES CRIME IMITATING LIFE
Recently in this space there was mention [1] made of some artwork (an original Dali!) being stolen from Rikers Island prison in NYÖ
Guess who was nabbed: COPS! Prison guards! Yep, it made the paper [2]. On the police blotter, yuk yuk.
Is this life imitating art, or art imitating life, or corrections officers imitating inmates at their art, or is it art being subject to life imitating the cruel realities of life in the world of confinement? I mean fine art.
The story continues: The 4 accused Corrections Officers were arraigned [3] the other day. Gee, if they are found guilty and have to do time, will they end up on the other side of the cellbars over at Rikerís Island?
Jail, theft, Dali, missing items - - to me they seem so abstract, yet so connected. Hereís the reason, and actually it is personal.
I like Dali. His work is wonderful. His abstract, somewhat psychedelic touches, such as fluidity and the combinations of organic forms along with symbolic inorganic icons ñalbeit ones in a sense of motion or travel, such as clocks and planesó move me.
These are the same reasons I enjoy the work of Hundertwasser (sample work here [4]) and Escher (sample work here [5]).
Thereís more.
Way back, over 20 years ago, when the ex and I were about to get married, some friends of hers from San Francisco got in touch regarding a wedding gift they had in mind for us. They were in the art world; the family owned a gallery, and was a champion of some up and coming artists. Among the items the gallery had was a lot of signed lithos of Daliís work, Flordali [6]. These first came on the market about a year before the wedding, it was a hot item. They very generously offered to give this to us as a wedding gift. But, they asked (and rightfully, IMHO), did we like Dali, did we know the work? The ex thought Dali was just weird. She was not really a fan, and did not quite get what his work was about. I explained that I loved Dali. Though not familiar with Flordali [6], I welcomed so generous a gift.
The ex, knowing art would appreciate, and appreciating that I would like it, agreed. Yes, we told them, we would be thrilled (grateful, humbled) to receive such a generous gift.
We had it framed. Back then we lived in Brooklyn Heights, where the Summa Gallery would do magic with framing. They did a magnificent job, and it became the artwork centerpiece of our living room. I loved it. From time to time the ex told me she didnít even like it, although yes, Summa sure did a nice job on the frame.
As time went by things changed. We got divorced. Community property got allocated. Guess who ended up with the Dali? Hint: who appreciated it, and who appreciated that it would appreciate?
So now when I see that a Dali was stolen from Rikerís Island (allegedly by the cops!), it harkens feelings in me of my own lost Dali. Sort of one crime reminding of one of another sort.
There was one other painting, a gift from me to the ex back before she was an ex. It hangs in her bedroom these days. Weíd agreed that I would get it after certain provisions of the divorce decree were met. Theyíve long since been met. But the picture no longer is of such appeal to me, at least as a material item to own. I have a very small print of it, actually, as part of a calendar collection, and that is as much as I need. I can live without the Dali, too. If I were to own a Dali there are others which would be more preferable.
But ever since the divorce and various other changes, material things are just so much less appealing and important. All I really want is enough of a living to enable the kids to go to colleges of their choice, and maintain a modest, comfortable domicile.
Of course, it would also be nice to have entrepreneurial media available to me. Plenty of selection, a cross-section of licensees and providers. Which brings us to the next item.
CONTACT YOUR SENATOR
Look at this [7]! A template [7] you can use to write to your senator regarding the FCC-sponsored media grab. Kudos to Mitch Ratcliffe [8] over at Correspondences.org [9] for posting this.
And keep an eye on John Rookís web page [10]. John is passionately committed to maintaining an eagle eye on this FCC-sponsored bigbiz power grab. He finds the stories, the coverage, the scoop, on this horrible chapter of the post-Dereg-era, and posts them.
Coming soon: inspired somewhat by recent discussions, e-mails and other such communication with some people from my former field of endeavor, a piece on "The Deregulation of Passion." It may have a different title once it is completed. And thanks to Howard Greenstein [11]for providing some incentive to post it both here and on Correspondences.org [9], of which he is one of the founders.