Something about Belief and Disbelief

I went to see David Salle speak at the NY Studio School. He said something like the following, "one had to believe and disbelieve at the same time and hold them both in ones head at the same time, that that was the game. "


I then went to see the Bonnard show at the MET. The surface of the paintings are such that one wants to believe they represent reality. Their awkwardness represent an authenticity and sincerity. Interesting to hold Matisse in ones head at the same time.



I went back to the Studio School to hear three critics and Graham Nickson talk then about Bonnard at the MET.

The critics sounded as disbelieving commentators, they were not to be fooled by the questioning brush parading as authenticity.

Graham knowing the art intimately was very passionate and undeterred as an artist, and believer, and came through as the most interesting.

So tonight I went to see Susan Rothenberg, and was surprised to see all this play out. Wonderful I thought how she can believe and disbelieve at the same time. Her puppets have a life that keeps a contemporary distance but dances with the pathos art has always had.