Reader Introduction

The intro puts a lot of emphasis on how diverse the five artists included in the reader are, and yet it all seems to come down to their rejection of the traditional and embracement of the creative process rather than merely a final product. All art is not meant to be a static painting hanging on a wall in an impressive gallery. Art now pervades every day life and is merely one aspect within a bombardment of other visuals we see when performing the most mundane activities. According to Calvin Tomkins, today's artists are more concerned with asking more questions than they are prepared to answer. They seek to infiltrate the minds of the average Joe walking down the street. Despite being from different states or parts of the world, the five artists mentioned all chose to exhibit in New York because it is a culmination of aesthetic culture. It seems somewhat ironic that these artists, who supposedly shirk anything mainstream, have found solace in a place known for its prestige in the art world.

The only artist I've heard of before is Duchamp. I've seen his urinal piece at least four different times this year, and I've studied his painting "Nude Descending a Staircase" in another art class. Both pieces show his willingness to ignore traditional art culture and create something to delight his own senses. He's interested in space, movement, and thinking "out of the box". I can only imagine that I'll soon learn about the other four men doing the same.