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  • THE BIG BLOG

    Midnight in Paris is a movie that is pure escapism. Woody Allen takes his audience back to 1920s Paris – where we meet Gertrude Stein, Picasso, Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and other big names of the period.

    A key theme is that we all look back through rose-tinted glasses to a Golden Age. It’s an interesting thought – particularly in the world of art, that we revere what has already been.

    Art from the Belle Époque, The Golden Age, is what artists wish they’d created, and art lovers wished they had bought when they could afford it. The movie cleverly brings the lead character around to discovering that now matters. Just like the spiritual mantra – we only have the power to affect the NOW. Maybe this is something we should give more thought to.

    We are living in a period that will be a Golden Age, sometime in the future. What will they admire – what of our era will they desire and wish they had created?

    Maybe we need a reminder to turn our eye to the present. And to seek out the greatness that is being created now – or to produce works that will stand, bathed in a golden hue for generations to come.

    At this moment an unknown person is creating something astounding – someone will recognise the brilliance. Whether you’re artist or art lover - make sure you’re not looking the other way.

  • THE BIG PICTURE

    TAS GALLERY AND ART TO BOOST THE ECONOMY

    The southern hemisphere’s largest private museum has opened in a winery in Tasmania. A few entertaining facts about the Museum of Old and New Art include:

    The opening night guests were chosen by a randomised computer draw.
    The collection’s owner, David Walsh made his money gambling and playing poker.
    An art installation “poo machine” works like a human digestive system and will be “fed” by staff.
    The collection is worth over 100 million dollars.

    The Higher Education Funding Council for England has had its income cut by 40%. This and other cuts to funding in the visual arts are sparking lively debate. How much do we value the arts and humanities?

    They used to be considered the foundation of civilized society. Today our governments are focussed on support to the fields of science, technology, mathematics, economics and engineering. The Global Financial Crises has impacted on spending – but how will paring back on the arts affect our society?

    Another interesting point is that in some areas art is being used as a regenerating force – bringing visitors and interest to redundant regions. It raises many questions – is art just a luxury or an obsolete pursuit – or can art be used as a tool to resuscitate the economy?

Art is the means by which life reflects on, transforms and indeed creates its values; human life without it would not properly be human at all.

Antony Gormley

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