Nationally respected columnist David Brooks recently wrote a moving opinion piece entitled, "The Power of Art in a Political Age." I meant to write a response after reading his column, but political firestorms kept popping up so I wrote about them instead.
Having first moved to Laguna in 1970, and worked for LAM here in town and two other museums over the years, I couldn't help but wonder what art means in times like ours? Is it meant to prevent the daily struggle of becoming "a shallower version of oneself" as Brooks claims, or is it meant to "see the world through the eyes of another" -- often someone who sees more deeply than most?
As far as I am concerned, art helps me better understand myself. As a young boy, I remember seeing the Chagall and Miro posters my parents hung in our house. As a 20-something graduate of USC, I remember driving several times from Laguna to Pasadena to visit the Norton Simon Museum. And as a 70-something collector, I always enjoy seeing the art on my walls every morning when I wake up. That's because they are more than pretty pictures in frames. Simply put, they remind me who I was when I purchased them, and who I want to be in the future.
I believe writer Brooks would agree that art, more often than not, speaks to the viewer. I can tell you that is 100 percent true in my case.
Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach
Yours truly five years ago at The Broad Museum in downtown Los Angeles. That’s an Ellsworth Kelly painting behind me.
Thank you for expressing how important art is on a daily basis when we are self reflecting. I love painting abstract art as I can express myself and watch others reflect on their own experiences.
Hopefully in the not too distant future we will visit The Broad. It's now been five years since we flew to Burbank, hopped in our rental car and headed straight to Langer's!
Art and food, food and Art.