Call us prejudiced, but we are excited about the show “Shared Intelligence: American Painting and the Photograph” which will be at the Georgia O’Keeffe museum here in Santa Fe from May to September. The show looks at the relationship between painting and photography using work by Chuck Close Thomas Eakins, David Hockney and of course, O’Keefe herself. For more information on the show check out the O’Keefe Musuem website.

If you want to see more check out this PBS Art 21 episode. Puryear’s segment appears at 2:30 – 14:50.

Paul Cezanne, "Still Life With Apples"

There must be some serious art lovers at Google. The recently released Google Art Project allows you to visit museums around the world, walk in specific rooms in those museums and then examine paintings at great, make that amazing, detail.

Some of the museums included in the project are The Tate, MOMA, The Uffizi Gallery, The Hermitage, The Metropolitan Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum.

You should really check this marvelous site out but make sure you have plenty of time to spend – its addicting.

If you missed the live broadcast last night you can watch the re-broadcast by clicking here.
Watch your DNG email newsletter or our home page for info on upcoming DNG LiVE events.

Make no mistake, those who make a living trying to fashion public sentiment about the latest art movement aren’t necessarily wrong or venal. But they are personally invested in the outcome and their opinions should be considered in that light. And just as obviously, the public at large will always be more receptive to representational art because it is initially more accessible.

In the end, art is personal and what appeals to one viewer does not appeal to another. It will always be this way and we are damn glad of it. This is not to say that all art is equal. There are obvious (to the thoughtful viewer) degrees of skill and creativity evidenced in some masterful works that are absent in others. There is great conceptual art and there is conceptual art that is total crap. Likewise there are some wonderful representational painters and some who should take up another occupation.

We all have personal preferences that influence why we are drawn to one style of work over another, but it would be a great thing if we disregarded all the labels and simply experienced each work on its own merits. This is a richer way to enjoy the pleasures of art and frankly it is the only intellectually honest way of evaluating the “worth” of a particular piece of art no matter the style. Dare we say it – if you do otherwise you are just following what is fashionable or being a lazy viewer rather than thinking for yourself. Uh-oh we’ve really stepped in it now.

Smith writes about a new breed of painters who are rediscovering representation and combining it with aspects of abstraction. This mash-up is as welcome as it was inevitable. Enough already with picking sides and defending a particular “ism” as if it were holy writ. Enough with feeling guilty when we are drawn to art that isn’t fashionable or something the “art mob” hasn’t ordained. Good work is good work is good work.

DNG has always shown a variety of artists who work in a variety of styles, believing that it is more about the artist’s talent and sincerity than whatever happens to be hot this year in Soho. Good on you, Ms. Smith for saying something that should have been said long ago. Let the truce begin. War is over if you want it.

A superb reference if you are planning a trip to our city different.

These two masters of comedy visit an art gallery and laughter ensues. Absolutely brilliant fall-down-laughing stuff.

So these artists took a bunch of sheep and hooked them up to LED displays and … well just watch.

Another Warhol in tonight’s auction titled, “200 Dollar Bills” had a high estimate of $12,000,000 and sold for an astounding $43,762,500.

Overall the art market has been gathering some steam over the past few months and Sotheby’s sale tonight was a huge indication that the market is poised for a resurgence. A vast majority of the works sold at estimate or above their high estimates.

A former receptionist for Andy Warhol in the late 1960′s recently found a Warhol self portrait that had been stored in her closet for over 40 years. The painting was a gift to her and will be auctioned November 11 at Sothebys. It is estimated to sell for between 1 – 1.5 million dollars.

Read more.