File spoon-archives/surrealist.archive/surrealist_1998/surrealist.9808, message 30


Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 13:20:13 -0500
From: bogartte <bogartte-AT-execpc.com>
Subject: Re: "Surreal Wisconsin"


Greetings Erickson,

Unfortunately I deleted all -AT-mails from the S(list
which had anything to do with the obnoxious exhibit
Surreal Wisconsin, at the Madison Art Center.

But there was a big review of the show in the
Milwaukee Journal, by the single critic in Milwaukee,
which quotes this little "curator" Sara Krajewski from
her modest exhibit catalogue:

"an art movement advanced by a group of artists in Paris
during the 1920's"

...which every knowledgeable person, who has actually done
research on the subject, knows, is totally incorrect.

So you can see where they are coming from.  Totally inept research.

None of the artists in the exhibit are or were, in fact, surrealists.

The show should have, more correctly, been called Magic Realism
in Wisconsin...

J. Karl Bogartte

barrett john erickson wrote:


> Greetings,
>
> thanks for the quick reply.
>
> > But, surrealism is not in Surreal Wisconsin... Wisconsin has a history
> > of a magical realism thing...
>
> i suspected such would be the case.  reading their promo on the web brought on that
> familiar nausea.
>
> > Oddly enough, someone not asscociated with the Center, suggested
> > they look at my work, at my instigation (and find out about the
> > Wisconsin surrealist group, duh?) and we (Hal, Gina and myself) sent
> > slides.
>
> a few months ago, you may remember, there was a message forwarded to the SurreaList
> which mentioned the "Surreal Wisconsin" project and looking for suggestions for an
> associated film screening.
>
> [reading on later i see your comments on this guy.]
>
> in my reply to the original poster, i asked if you had been consulted, and advised
> that if not, you should be.  i assumed actual surrealist input would be the only way
> this might come off inoffensively.
>
> > But in their words they didn't have enough time to do an exhaustive
> > survey of surrealism in Wisconsin (which, of course, there isn't such a
> > thing... nibbles, here and there, but actually, an amazing dirth)... And, well,
> > we were not accepted!?  Well, give me a break... but, their attitude is natural.
> >
>
> if that wasn't so typically arrogant for that breed, it might be absurdly funny.
>
> > And, I don't know if you received any of the surrealist list stuff from
> > some other idiot there (Madison) asking for surrealist film ideas.  Hal has
> > some really good stuff (and connections), Svankmajur, Man Ray, and others
> > which he offered to lend the Art Center, but they never responded.
>
> > ...
>
> > None of us even got announcements for the show, so that should tell you
> > something of the level they're working on.  I realy don't even know
> > who's in it!
>
> i've written for info a couple times myself.  i did get some e-mailed info on the
> film screenings (to be held in october), but none of the promised mailings have come.
>
> i was _trying_ not to pre-judge this thing, but you've confirmed my suspicions (and
> saved me a reconnaissance trip to madison -- thank you).
>
> if you don't mind, could you send me copies of the more offensive communications?  in
> particular anything in their own words demonstrating their arrogant ignorance and
> inattention to the wisconsin group, hal's offer, etc.
>
> [e-mail to the address below, or p.o. box 50476 minneapolis, mn 55405]
>
> i want to prepare a tract of condemnation for two reasons:
>
> 1)  because i may still find it compelling to see some of the films they will offer
> (won't know 'til i see the list), i want to have something ready to distribute on
> site.
> 2)  this is a convenient way to test the potential which has emerged recently for
> some local collaboration and group activity.
>
> input from the wisconsin group would, of course, be welcome and you would certainly
> be offered the opportunity to co-sign.
>
> later,
>
> -- barrett
>
>    barrett-AT-MagneticFields.org
>    http://www.MagneticFields.org/
>
> "Everything tends to make us believe that there exists a certain point of the mind at
> which life and death, the real and the imagined, past and future, the communicable
> and the incommunicable, high and low, cease to be perceived as contradictions."
>
>                                                         ...André Breton
>
>

  -- Bosch, Brueghel and Bogartte...
Only Bogartte is still alive,
and you can find him at:

http://www.execpc.com/~bogartte


   

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