"Art" That Pisses Me Off

One of the main reasons I've removed myself from the "Art" world is the overwhelming preponderance of far left mindlessness. Thanks to Derridia (good riddance) and his ilk, art is now more about politics than it is aesthetics. But dammit, I really love fine art. It's just becoming harder and harder to find it (and harder to motivate myself to seek it out).

Since I still have faith that there is good out there (and there is) I belong to many of the minor and major art organizations in town. So I get all kinds of invitations to places I really have never thought about visiting. I recently received an invite to a photography exhibition at the Art Car Museum.

Exhibit is titled "Diary of an Execution"

Looking at the invite, there will be a panel discusion on the exhibit on January 15th. Are there photography critics on this panel? Art critics? Hell no!

So what is this "Art Exhibit" really about? Let's look at the panel to find out.

James Ryting - Attorney for James Colburn (the executed and subject of this documetary exhibit)

Tina (Morris) Duroy - Sister of James Colburn (Morris in parenthesis as printed on the invite. Don't know what to make of those. Probably some feminist plot to diminish the paternal subjugation of women through the.., well, I could do this forever..)

Fabian Biasso - Swiss Photographer (Swiss is the key word here)

David Atwood - Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (In Texas! Good luck.)

Victor R. Scarano M.D., J.D. Chief of Forensic Psychiatry Services, Baylor College of Medicine (a lawyer and a psychiatrist. Professional witness)

Ah. And the sponsors. Too many to mention but prominently emblazoned on the invite are two interesting sponsors of note.

Consulate General of Switzerland

Federal Department of Foreign Afairs Cultural Foreign Policy Center Switzerland.

Oh and throw in Amnesty International for good measure.

OK then. Do y'all see a pattern here? 'Caus I sure the hell do.

Meet James Colburn, the subject of this exhibit.

I wonder. Why there are none of Peggy Murphy's family on this panel? Or for that manner, anyone that actually supports the death penalty? I know, stupid question.

What's even more galling is that this is a photography exhibit by a Swiss photographer funded by the Swiss government. And their official position on execution of criminals is a big NO (despite the wishes of the populace).

Government supported art with a political agenda? Well Mr. Emmentalcheese man, in these parts we call that propoganda. Which is all this sorry excercise is.

Yes I could go and agitate and cause problems but what's the use? The attendees are already wedded to their beliefs and I'll just negatively reinforce them (and, well, the NFL playoffs are on...). What a friggin' waste of money.

And since this exhibit is at the Art Car Museum, I just have to ask;

What the hell does this have to do with cars?