THE WORLD OF ART
BY MAXIMILLIEN de LAFAYETTE, Editor-in-Chief, Syndicated Columnist.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR: FRENCH IMPRESSIONISM IN CHINA, FLORENCE BIENNALE, DIGITAL ART OF JOSEPH NECHVATAL, CYNTHIA KARALLA'S PHOTO MONTAGE, RICK PROL & JAN LYNN NEW YORK'S EAST VILLAGE SHOW
The International Jury is composed of Prof. Pasquale Celona, President of the Biennale and President of the International Jury; Professor. John T. Spike, critic and art historian, Director of Florence Biennale; Professor. Barbara Rose, art Historian and critic; Elza Ajzenberg, professor of art and communication; Director of the MAC, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sao Paolo, Brazil; Dr. Veronika Birke, Vice director of the Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna Austria; The remarkable Professor Piero Celona, Vice President of the Biennale and responsible of public relations; Prof. R.B. Bhaskaran; Dr. Stefano Francolini, art historian and director of the restoration department of Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence; Dr. Julian Zugazagoitia, director of El Museo del Barrio, New York; David S. Rubin, visual art curator, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans. Piero and Pasquale Celona are the driving force, soul and "brains" of the Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art events, gathering international artists from around he globe. People like the Celonas keep the torch of art bursting, the hopes of artists alive, and a bright future for contemporary/modern art, a pragmatic reality. Unquestionably, the Florence Biennale is a world treasure.
REWRITING
ART HISTORY IS SOMETIMES AN URGENT NECESSITY!
Photos from L to R: Jan Lynn Sokota and Rick Prol, New York's art pioneers.
And this is precisely what Jan Lynn Sokota, grande dame of the arts in New York and Rick Prol, pioneer of America's art of the eighties are doing. Art opponents and rivals are giving Jan Lynn and Rick hard time. Gossips, art grapevines and heated debates in New York about "personal agenda and personal interests" of curators and biased groups who are erroneously documenting New York art of the eighties and keeping Jan Lynn and Rick out of the "documentation" are disturbing many serious people and important figures in the world of art. So, Rick and Jan Lynn are in the process of setting the record straight and preserving accuracy in history.
How are they doing this? What have they done? Many magnificent things, to name one: They created their own group, their own gallery and their own shows gathering the best of the best in the business. Also, they are offering the opportunity to all the legitimate and well recognized artists of the art of the eighties to exhibit their work in their show! And they did! Thus their "East Village ASU" art shows became the welcoming rainbow of all the artists who meaningfully contributed to the arts in New York, without biases and prejudice. Quite a remarkable accomplishment in a city where gossips, badmouthings and bitter prejudiced rivalry are en vogue. Jan Lynn and Rick did "not ignore or trash" genuine New Yorker artists as their rivals did, said many honest art critics and art historians. And we are with Rick and Jan Lynn all the way!
Photo: Installation, 1986, by Rick Prol at Nada Gallery.