One Shocking Sensation

I woke up this morning to the news that both  Marvin Hamlish and Robert Hughes had died.  The loss of these two men, who contributed so much to culture and art are gone and it was quite a blow...especially with "art of the disco" curated by James Franco looming on the horizon.

"A Chorus Line" opened on Broadway in 1975 and I took my first trip to New York in 1976.  I had been pre-destined to a life of dance since I was 4 but seeing "A Chorus Line" made me realize that a career of real life dancing wasn't going to be Mrs. Pettit's dance class for girls.  Still I loved it, I LOVED IT!!! I loved the Bob Fosse choreography and I LOVED that music, Marvin Hamlish's music.  I wore out the record - twice!  And when we all switched to CDs, I bought that music for a third time. Still to this day I can't forget, won't regret what I did for LOVE...go ahead..put it on full blast in your car and SING and tip your top hat to Marvin Hamlish!

By 1980 when "The Shock of the New" aired on PBS, I had re-directed my sights to art.  Art encompassed not just beautiful objects but history, politics, religion and the world.  I fell for Robert Hughes hook, line and sinker.  The way he expressed himself, taking no prisoners, not apologizing for his often controversial opinions and being just a little bit rough around the edges with his Aussie accent made him my Hemingway. He will always be the greatest art critic to me.

If you are are curious to read more about Robert Hughes click here: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/aug/07/robert-hughes-greatest-art-critic?intcmp=239

Or watch clips of Hughes take on the Meaning of Art, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and the art market in general, click here:

http://galleristny.com/2012/08/robert-hughes-visits-alberto-mugrabi-and-other-adventures-in-art-criticism/