'Dinner and a Movie' / Blue-Text Diptych

Principles of Art, Index: V Section

values, see tactile values.
Van Gogh, V., 53n.
verse, 296.
Vico, Giambattista, 80, 138.
violence, literature of, 87.
violin, 143.
'visual art,' painting not a, 144.
'vulgar, speaking with the,' 131, 174.

Materials

A small tight coil
of wire gone
to rust
thus dressed
in terra cotta
orange but not spoiled,
usable &
sections of pipe caked
with scabrous concrete.

Some Trees

The artist cannot afford passively to acept, to "reflect" or to celebrate what everybody likes. The artist who subscribes to the commercial slogan that the customer is always right will soon be deserted by everybody. The customer has now been trained to think that the artist is always right. Thus we have a new situation in which the artist feels himself obligated to function as a prophet or magician. He sees that he has to be disconcerting, even offensive. Who will ever read him or buy him unless he occasionally insults the customer and all he believes in? That is precisely what the customer wants. He has delegated to the artist the task of non-conforming on his behalf---the task of not conforming with "ordinary decent people." Where does the artist go from there? In desperation he paints a meticulously accurate portrait of a beer can. (T.Merton, 1966)

Legs & An Arm

A Blues

What horror to awake at night

and in the dimness see the light.

..................Time is white

..................mosquitoes bite

I’ve spent my life on nothing.

The thought that stings. How are you, Nothing,

sitting around with Something’s wife.

..................Buzz and burn

..................is all I learn

I’ve spent my life on nothing.

I’m pillowed and padded, pale and puffing

lifting household stuffing—

..................carpets, dishes

..................benches, fishes

I’ve spent my life on nothing.

- Lorine Niedecker