Soon after it opened, my wife and I went to the Tacoma Museum of Glass, in the hopes of seeing great examples of art…made of Glass.

What greeted us was a display of several modern “artists”, including, among others, John Gage.

Some of the artwork included: 

• A piece of approximately 8 in. x 10 in. parchment, upon which the “artist” had traced the outline of several rocks.
• A 10 or 15 foot roll of parchment upon which the “artist” had wallked backwards across, after stepping into paint.
• A recording of one of Gage’s musical “art pieces” in which each note was played 60 seconds apart.

And other less memorable pieces…

This was when I realized something that I had long suspected, but whose thought had not crystalized in my mind:  It isn’t that I don’t understand “modern art”, it is that “modern art” ISN”T ART.

I guess the best way I have heard it phrased is:

I too believe that modern art was a liberal plot (and a very successful one at that) to suppress the truly talented artists. Liberals hate the fact that ability isn’t distributed equally in the population, so they endorse a form of “art” that requires little ability.

So, in that spirit, we have the news (courtesy of Komo4) that, in Ashland, Oregon (on the campus of Southern Oregon University):

An art project that was mistaken for vandalism was the target of vandals who destroyed the exhibit last week.

The artist, Paul Messenger, said the piece was a commentary on society’s apathy to its problems, but was left for interpretation by the viewer.

The exhibit in the Southern Oregon University art courtyard and art buildings consisted of 36,000 feet of red tape. It was titled “The Depravity of Society Juxtaposed Against the Apathy of Contemporary Culture” and scheduled to be shown through July 2 as a final project in an art course taught by professor Madeline Alt.

The red tape was meant to contrast with the grey stone of the buildings. “It’s a very dull atmosphere, a very sterile environment,” Messenger said.

Now, again, being the uncultured boob that I am, the only art I see in this is:

• The title of the work.  I mean, come on, that took some thought.
• The ability to use 36,000 feet of red tape as a “final project” in a course.  The guy didn’t even MAKE THE TAPE himself.

As adolescents will, many students started destroying the “art”.  One, out of a spirit, we assume, of community service, tried to clean up the mess.

Police cited an SOU sophomore, Genevieve Hummel, 19, for tearing the installation down, and the university art department is pressing charges.

“I didn’t know it was an art project,” Hummel said. “It wasn’t labeled. No one knew it was an art project.”

Hummel said other people were tearing the art installation down and she was cleaning it up when art professor Cody Bustamante confronted them.

Hummel’s reward for her public spirit?

Hummel was accused of 11 different conduct and student responsibility charges. She also is being charged with criminal mischief. The SOU art department is seeking $83.39 for six hours of labor and the supplies required to replace the installation.

The most interesting thing to note here is the admission that the “art work” could be replaced for less than $85, including the cost of the tape.  Wow, that’s some great final project.

And the “Artist”?

Messenger, 24, is a graduating senior who is working with an art therapy group at Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility and plans on entering SOU’s master’s in teaching program.

Nice to know that the values of the current Art staff at SOU will be carried forward by this member of the avant garde.

Although one wonders what, exactly, kind of art therapy he is conducting with the Youth at Rogue River. 

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