Re: art critic

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 16:23:17 +0100, Dominic Cronin wrote:

> On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 18:39:56 +0000 (UTC), "Duncan"
> <dunks.spamcan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>I was at a function at the Laing Gallery last night. This was in the room
>>with the Damian Hurst work in the middle - a big glass box containing some
>>gas cylinders, an anaesthetist's machine and a chair, all cut in half of
>>course. My colleague Dave summed up the deep impression made by this
>>important landmark of modern sculpture very succinctly, and with profound
>>perception, with the words "well, it's just in the way really" :-)
>>
>>Duncan
>>
>>
> It's a real shame, actually. All that fuss and palaver over the old
> flour mill, and all this time Newcastle's had an art gallery all
> along. The only problem with it is that it's ***. Can't they borrow
> some paintings from a gallery that's got some worth looking at? I
> mean, I know they mean well and all, but where in the North East can
> you go to look at top quality paintings?
>
> All right - I know that the last few years living in London and
> Amsterdam have probably given me expectations that are too high. The
> Geordie public will be fine if they get fobbed off with an
> anaesthetist's machine.

I think uninformed criticism of the Laing is grossly unfair. As someone who
often does not understand 'modern' art I do understand that others might.
Certainly I have not seen anything in the Baltic which is 'good art'. The
meccano bridges were clever but not art and my grandchildren had fun with a
train set a while back, but the indoor tree-house left me baffled. Not only
that, but I have never been when more than two floors were open! Oh I while
I'm ranting, the cafe was good - is bad.
The Laing by contrast always has several different exhibitions running at
any given time and their collection of Victorian paintings is always worth
a look. The 'History of Newcastle' walk-through is a place to go more than
once. Not only that, but they have a decent cafe too.
Here is their website http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing/ (and links to
other galleries and museums in the area). I like Shipley in Gateshead and
Bowes in Barnard Castle http://www.bowesmuseum.co.uk/ despite the fact that
it's the only one mentioned that you have to pay.
--
Jim
Tyneside UK
.