Little Appreciation for Art and Finer things in Life

What is wrong with me? Which genes am I missing? Is it part of your DNA and are you born with it or there is hope and you can be cultured? I am talking about things like Opera, Ballet, Theater, Art, Modern Paintings, Poetry, Literature, Champagne, Wine, and that sort of things.

I don’t know where to start, but it was all triggered by this article yesterday, Friday, November 11, 2006, in LA Times, Calendar section called, “Geffen’s other dream works.” David Geffen is one of the triplet billionaires who own DreamWorks SKG, the giant movie/animation studio. The other two executives are Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, therefore the “SKG” acronym. Any how, he just “caused a stir by selling one painting for a record $140 million and two others for a combined $143.5 million, all within the last two months.”, according to the article. The $140 million is Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, 1948” and Willem de Kooming’s “Police Gazette”, fetched a cool $63.5 million. Jasper Johns’“False Start” sold for $80 million last month. “As a matter of taste, Geffen mostly favors Abstract Expressionist and Pop Art works from artists such as Pollock, De Kooning, Johns, and Rauschenberg”, reports the article as well. While I’m on the subject I might as well mention the art deal

There was too points to this article. One obviously was the story behind the paintings and David Geffen’s fascination and interest and the depth and value of his collection. For example, the article also mentions De Kooning’s “Woman III”. “The history of “Woman III” makes the clear that Geffen’s collecting has been more than a casual pastime. He wound up with that work after a complex trade in 1994 that involved a handoff in the international zone of the Vienna airport. One side started with a 16th century book of Persian miniature paintings (estimated value: $20 million), the other with the De Kooning. Before long, Geffen had the De Kooning and the book was in the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.” I just mentioned this part, since it’s about Persian Art and Shirin my second cousin is an artist who will hopefully one day have her works valued astronomically too. You can find her here: Shirin in Engelestan That is, she should keep drawing and hopefully, cross my fingers, she may not have to wait 400 years. We have a few other artists and writers in our family and I wish them all luck.

The other point to the story Two, was addressing whether he is raising the $2 billion or so it could cost to purchase the Los Angeles Times news paper. Now why Geffen is interested in buying a major conservative new paper? He is making money left & right making his movies. I’ve heard he is gay. Is he planning to influence and make it a more liberal paper? I don’t know, I’m just guessing.

My point! I am lost and amazed! I don’t see the fascination and interest and obviously the absurd (yes absurd) amount these paintings are sold for. Actually, I like this style of painting too. A few years ago when I bought my place, I spent less than $2000 on several paintings (4 larger and 2 smaller ones) to decorate my walls.

On a related stories today (Sat. November 10, 2006), Picasso art work being repaired:
Wynn Las Vegas’ Picasso painting was damaged while Steve Wynn, the casino mogul accidentally poked a hole in a Picasso while he was showing the 1932 work to several high profile guests. The painting is called “Le Reve” French for “The Dream” and it’s depicting Picasso’s mistress, Marie-Theresa Walter. Wynn paid $48.4 million for it in 1997, and was considering selling it for $139 million to an art collector a few days earlier. His wife said, “This is sign from God that we ought to keep it.” According to an art dealer appraiser, a resorted piece naturally is not worth the full value. It breaks your heart, doesn’t it?

As far as Opera and Ballet goes, I’ve only been to one Ballet and very few operas. Of course, like everyone else, you’re more exposed to them on TV. I have watched some, but I guess it’s not the same as being there. I like Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and I have only been to the Phantom of the Opera, once. I say once, because my little niece had fallen in love with it and had gone to see it many times.

I don’t think I can’t stay awake during the Swan Lake as was the case on the last Chinese Ballet I went to last year, thinking I’ll kill two birds in one stone. Halfway thru the middle of the second act, I found I couldn’t keep my eyes open and was trying to hide it from my date. The wine before the show and at the intermission might have had something to do with it too.

I like operas the least. I have a CD of Pavarotti which I enjoy, but I don’t like many others. What’s wrong with me?

I have only been to a couple of plays: Fiddler on the roof, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I liked them both, but William Shakespeare is not that easy for me to understand, but it’s a very cute comedic play. And how hasn’t heard Hamlet’s “To be or not to be…” and the story of Othello? I just wished I liked them more! That is, I just don’t go out of my way to go to a play, or book Ballet and Opera tickets. I was always open to see the Broadway musicals Cats, but less excited to see Beauty and the Beast, for example. I also liked to see Les Miserable, but never actually made any effort to go. If someone had asked me to go I would have, but never made an effort myself. I did also see Elton’s Johns, something musical, but can’t even recall the name. I guess I enjoy concerts more.

At least I lucked out on Classical Music. I must have some of the genes. I do enjoy a variety of it and different composers. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is awesome! I try to go to some classical music concerts usually held at the Hollywood Bowl in LA or at two other outside venues in LA/Orange County area. These outside concerts are a lot of fun. Besides the music, you can take a picnic basket with your favorite snacks and drinks. Most times you are allowed to take the wine as well.

I also enjoy concerts too, but most people do too. This is nothing new or not much to say about it. It depends on individual taste and I like a variety of music and many different bands.

I like Persian poetry more than English. I just don’t relate much to the English poems. I did enjoy some of the Persian poetries we had to learn in school, but that was it. Once school was over, I never went back to read, enjoy, or seek to learn more. It always amazed me that some of the older relatives and friends could rehearse so many and had a right poem for every occasion. I’m jealous of them.

So far, forget about literature. I have purchased some of the classics, but never made the time to read them. I always remember that and think to myself that I might have cheated myself out of something good, by never making the time to read the so many books I collected. I wasn’t as bad with the fictions. I would read some of them at bed time, or here and there.

I envy people who really enjoy drinking a couple of glasses of wine over dinner, an afternoon weekend, or just at some gatherings. I’ve tried most of them, but mostly Cabornet, Merlot, Chianti, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, White Zinfandel, Souvenian Blanc, Riesling, to name a few. I just don’t enjoy them as much the other people do. I get in to the mood, and mostly it’s at a dinner date that we order wine, but as soon as I have take a sip, I start questioning how come don’t enjoy it like others do? I’m much happier when I order a Diet Coke or cranberry ice tea. It’s not easy to find your favorite wine. It requires a lot of research and trial and error. Because you have to try and decide which of these you like best: Dry, delicate, crisp, fruity, goes with red meat, goes with white meat, with poultry, with cheese and crackers, an so on and so forth! If I had to pick any, I would go with the Riesling, a white wine, but then it might not be appropriate with red meat. Who decided that and made it stick? I guess it pays to go to one of those wine tasting trips. I'm reminded of Sidaways, the movie, last year.
Forget Champagne. Every new year, or at birthday party or occasions like that people pop Champagne bottles and seem to really enjoy it. Not me! I don’t care for it. Please don’t take wrong, I feel the same about all other alcoholic drinks too. Believe me, I’m not that boring and I usually order something, but I just don’t enjoy them that much!

When I think of art, I immediately associated it with museums. I enjoy going to them at least one, or sometimes more than once. The Getty Museum in LA is a site to see and a good experience worth more than one trip. Of course, I cannot compare it with the Louvre Museum, since I haven’t been there, but I imagine it can hold its own. Another place that is a must see, is the Huntington Library (and botanical garden) in San Marino (close to Pasadena & LA.) There are other museums in LA area but these two, I recommend the most.

Did I leave anything out? I know I rambled on, but I’m think I will one day return here and read this and reflect on it and ask what the hell was I talking about or why I was acting like a dork.

One update: I just read that DreamWorks was sold to Viacom for $1.6 billion earlier this year.

Also, I forgot to mention musicals, be it movies or plays. There’s only a few that I’ve liked: Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, Chicago with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger & Richard Gere (one or more of them was either nominated or got an Oscar,I think), and Evita, with Madona & Antonio Banderas. On all of the above, I liked the story more than the music! I didn’t care for All that Jazz, Bob Fosse’s story with Roy Scheider & Jassica Lange or Lion King’s Broadway Musical and Elton John’s music. I think most of them have won one or more accolades.