Art Reading 2025

 

There is no required reading list for my self described Art Junky Habit, but lately I have let my own curiosity drive my casual reading. The remarkable exhibit Picasso and Paper at the Cleveland Museum of Art (January 17, 2025). Life with Picasso is a dandy overview of Picasso and tells you a lot about the artists and his muses.

Monet is fascinating too and my visit to the Museum of Fine Arts - Boston (February 28, 2025) seemed deserving of a scholarly overview of Monet The  Restless Vision.

The Saint Louis Art Museum - (June 6, 2025) hosted a member talk by former Curator at the North Carolina Museum of Art - . The author of Artcurious Jennifer Dasaal signed my book "Wes - Stay Curious!"

A visit to Museum of Modern Art, MoMA - (June 13, 2025) via Laguardia Airport and a meeting with my good friend David Drimer was more than an ample reminder of why I love to revisit great art museums. Almost immediately spotted Picasso's Goat. Also loved seeing Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollack, Salvador Dali, Max Beckman and Mark Rothko.  

I have plans to visit the Andy Warhol Museum August 30, 2025 so I ordered Warhol to read in anticipation. The book is 900 pages and should provide a pretty good overview Andy and Pop Art. 

 

Fathers Day Weekend 2025

So much fun over Fathers' Day Weekend. Ben and Allison and the amazing James opened up their Ocean, NJ home to me and I got to see some remarkable dads and thank some too. My foursome at the golf course adjacent to Ben's house included Papa, Ben, Perry and Max. 

Dads on the golf course are Perry Schatzow; husband of Autumn and dad of Samson and Marlow (knockout); Max; husband to Mary and father of Lilly and Daniel; Ben; husband to Allison and father of the amazing James (8 yr old Minecraft and Sponge Bob fan); Wesley Morgan (Papa Wes, father of Lindsey Dewey, wife of Robert Christopher Dewey (Chris) and mom to Robert Lawton Dewey (Lawton about to be 9 on July 5) and my boy Ben.    

 

  

MoMA June 13, 2025

 

It had been too long since being at the Museum of Modern Art. And too long since hanging out with my college pal Dave Drimer. So. on June 13 (Friday the 13th) I traveled to New York City on Southwest Airlines from Saint Louis. I got up at something like 3:30 a.m. for the 2 hour 15 minute flight to NYC. A 60 minute $65 dollar cab fare and finding a place to check my bag (The Hyatt on 54th and Avenue of the Americas - five dollars). But it was worth it as I met David Drimer in the museum lobby.

The sculpture garden was among the first sights. Picasso's GOAT, and Arristide Maillol's THE RIVER were a among my first visual treats to this remarkable place on 53rd Street. Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian, Richard Serra, Mark Rothko and more. 

 

Dave and I talked about old times at the University of Miami, being UM Admissions Counselors, and our early career highlights in New York City. To catch a train to Long Branch, New Jersey I walked 20+ blocks in Manhattan (half of which was with Dave - who had to catch a 7 subway train to LIC).

My boy Ben, his wife - Allison and the amazing James were there at Long Branch. This was the start of a remarkable Fathers' Day weekend at 28 Dorset in Ocean, New Jersey. 

Friday - MoMA with Drimer

Saturday - Monmouth Park Racetrack with Ben/Allison/James

Sunday - Golf with with Perry Max and Ben, Brunch at 28 Dorset (the highlight of which was quality time with Toby - the Matriarch).

Monday - Uber Reynaldo to LaGuardia.

James has just 4 more days of school and on this Monday June16th I joined them as they waited for the school bus.

Dave Drimer, Picasso's Goat, and me at MoMA on June 13, 2025.  

  

 

Silk purse from a Sow's Ear

The phrase "you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear" comes from the Reverend Johnathan Swift (1801) who is widely credited with coining the phrase. However, a similar statement appears in Stephen Gosson's Ephemerides of Phialo in 1579. The saying implies that if something is inherently poor quality or of low value, you cannot make it into something of high quality or value, no matter how much effort is put into it.

André Harvey, b. 1941 Stella (from an edition of 30), 2007, cast 2009
Bronze Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas

Stay Curious!

 

Jennifer Dasal was the speaker at the Ferrell Auditorium at the Saint Louis Art Museum on Friday Night (6/6/25). She was curator at North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC and launched her career as blogger and that evolved into her becoming an author. 

I read her first book in anticipation of this event. The book sheds some light on a variety of art history mysteries. The circumstances of Vincent van Gogh's death, the theft and authenticity of the Mona Lisa, Monet's early reception, and Andy Warhol's time capsules. (610 of them!)

But perhaps the most curious and fascinating of all on this night was her enthusiastic endorsement of Harriet Hosmer (1830-1908). Her Zenobia in Chains stands proudly overlooking sculpture hall from the third floor arching window in the museum. That is until it was put on loan the the Missouri History Museum a few months ago. So, in spite of the high praise Jennifer put on the piece she assumed would still be "on view" at SLAM, almost no-one in the audience knew: Zenobia was not home. I was assured by staff that she'd be back.

  

Key Point

\

I was a Mad Man Ad Man back in the day. I was a young father of two. Among my favorite times were those quality moments with my kids. My daughter was precocious and curious. She had lots of questions. I  had no problem engaging here about the stuff that was important to me in the advertising business. A favorite, when she was old enough to understand the nature of advertising communication was a game we liked to call "Key Point". 

The game goes something like this. A routine evening in front of the TV would invariably be loaded up with commercials. Usually a 30 second spot. My challenge was to ask my pre-teen to watch some spots and identify the Key Point. 

A fast-talking guy says "when you absolutely, positively, need to ship something overnight. Fed Ex is fast and reliable. Right.

Mr. Whipple is in the grocery aisle telling shoppers to not squeeze the toilet tissue. Charmin is so soft, you only need to feel it to know it is the best. Right. 

Recommended by 4 out of five dentists to prevent cavities. Well they must know that Crest is best.

Choosy mothers chose Jiff. Well mom you know you want the best in your kid's lunchbox, even if it is only a PB&J. 

The key point was to appeal to consumers before they are faced with the purchase decisions at the grocery store. Now, I'm kind of sad to see the game has changed to much. An elephant never forgets because of what we used to promote in the ad biz - reach and frequency. Maybe we were guilty of a simple model that suggested a key point drilled into broadcast television ads was all we needed. I'm not gonna lie: I miss the basic formula that drove advertising agencies to find that one strong compelling reason to buy. Done well, the agency will be rewarded with more business because the client is seeing measurable gains in market share and maybe even brand loyalty that justifies paying a premium over other prodects in a category.  

Walt Whitman Inspires

Walt Whitman poem to inspire you to fight for your dreams

Seize the day.

Do not let it end without growing a little,

without finding joy,

without nourishing your dreams.

Do not let discouragement defeat you.

Do not allow anyone to steal your right to express yourself,

for that is almost a duty.

Do not give up on the desire to make your life extraordinary.

Believe that words and poetry have the power to transform the world,

for our essence, even in the face of storms,

remains intact.

We are made of passion.

Life is both desert and oasis.

It knocks us down, it wounds us,

but it also teaches us to rise again

and to become the protagonists of our own story.

Even if the winds blow against you,

the work of your life continues.

And you, yes, can bring forth a unique and powerful verse.

Never stop dreaming,

for in dreams lies freedom.

Do not commit the worst of mistakes:

living in silence.

Most people settle for a devastating silence.

But not you.

Shout, fight,

express yourself across the rooftops of the world,

like a poet who cherishes the beauty of the simple things.

Do not betray yourself.

Respect your beliefs.

Rowing against your own being is sentencing yourself to unhappiness.

Embrace the panic of having life ahead of you.

Live intensely, without mediocrity.

Remember that the future is in your hands.

Embrace this responsibility with courage and determination.

Learn from those who came before us,

the "Dead Poets,"

for their voices echo as guides.

And today, we are the "Living Poets."

Do not let life pass you by.

Live. Intensely, courageously, passionately.