Random Thoughts

I just wanted to post some random blog- and/or art-related thoughts in one potpourri post, so here I go freely associating like Jackson Pollock painting Number 1, 1950 (aka, Lavender Mist) (above, from 1950):

(1) Many thanks to everyone who’s been reading and commenting. I always find it amazing that I have any readers, let alone 300 visitors every day. My goal from day one has always been to learn more about art and myself, but if anyone else wants to come along for the ride, you’re more than welcome. I’ll always try to find interesting things to (hopefully) write interestingly about even if I’m the only one in the audience.

(2) Speaking of commenting, thank you for all the kind words and encouragement. I was especially happy to get feedback regarding my review of Rhythms of India: The Art of Nandalal Bose from people of Indian descent who already knew how great an artist Nandalal Bose is. As proud as I am that my hometown museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, opened doors with that exhibition, I take pride in being able to spread the word and contribute to the greater understanding not only of art but also of other cultures. Like The Monkees once sang, “Love Is Understanding,” and (as Dionne Warwick and others once sang) “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.” (Please note that a double schmaltzy song quote is the blogging equivalent of a Scrabble triple word score.)

(3) Speaking of commenting and love, please remember when commenting that this is an open forum and to be respectful of the host. I don’t delete comments unless they’re profane, spam, or both. However, people who question my integrity, intelligence, patriotism, etc., shouldn’t read my lack of response as an inability to respond. Some testy comments in reply to my more politically charged posts tested my ability to be civil, but, thankfully, I found my Zen and decided that a novella-length diatribe won’t open a closed mind no matter how artfully argued. I refuse to engage in a dispute over the socioeconomic equivalent of what color the sky is. (It’s blue.) That being said, I can’t guarantee I’ll resist the urge to write a liberal rant or two between now and November 4th, so those so inclined will have their opportunity to comment again, hopefully with more tact.

(4) Speaking of making friends, if you’re a Facebook user, please check out my Facebook page (search for “Art Blog By Bob”). While you’re there, consider becoming a friend of the blog and meet others who have become friends. (Or more than friends. If anyone gets married thanks to the Art Blog By Bob “love connection,” please let me know. Alex can be your ring bearer.) Join Haikoo Zoo, one of Facebook’s quirkier applications, and you can pet the Art Blog By Bob pet/mascot, Utley the Hedgehog, who’s usually napping peacefully in his art gallery environment after a delicious bowl of udon. (Why Utley? Phillies phans know.)

(5) As always, many thanks to the museums and publishers who provide me with review copies of the latest art books and catalogues. As part of the larger death of the American newspaper, the book review finds itself on the endangered list. While extinction looms over the print book review, I think the last, best hope for good writing about good writing is online. I’ve chosen art-related books because that’s where my bliss lies, but there are plenty of other blogs and websites out there filling other niches. Art books rarely found column space when newspapers actually did run book reviews of any kind, so I like to think I’m performing a long-needed public service—while getting to read and enjoy and learn in the bargain.

(6) And, finally, no, Jeopardy! hasn’t called me yet to appear on the show. I’m in the pool of potential contestants for filming through the end of 2009, so I may have a lot of waiting ahead of me. If I ever get on television, I’ll be sure to let everyone know so they can tune in and pray along with me for lots of arts and literature categories and as little geography (my Achilles’ heel) as possible. Watching the recent Tournament of Champions, I agonized on the sofa as question after question stumped all three contestants despite my yelling the answer at the television 3,000 miles away and months after the actual filming. God (and Alex Trebek) willing, I’ll get my chance someday.

Secret Identity

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The Most Arrogant Contest in Blogging

Money for nothing, Courbet’s chicks for free…

--From “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits (sort of)

“I am the most arrogant man in France,” Gustave Courbet once bragged, doing his best to live up to that reputation through the boldness of his art and personality. Thanks to the generosity of the awesome people at Abbeville Press, Art Blog By Bob hosts the first Art Contest By Bob in which a copy of Ségolène Le Men’s Courbet will be given to one lucky reader. (See my review of Courbet HERE.) Are you arrogant enough to think you deserve a free copy of this lushly illustrated, beautifully written, coffee-table book retailing at $135 USD? Or will you dreamily let this opportunity slip by, like Courbet’s sister Zélie strumming her guitar in Girl Dreaming (above, from 1848)?

“What do I have to do to win?,” you may ask, palms already sweating with anticipation. It’s this easy:

(1) Go to the Abbeville Press web page for Courbet.

(2) In honor of my recent audition with Jeopardy!, provide the question to the following answer by searching the Courbet page:

Ségolène Le Men, the author of Abbeville Press’ Courbet, attended this superior institution of higher learning in France.

Please note that your answer MUST be in the form of a question. Alex Trebek expects nothing less.

(3) E-mail me at ArtBlogByBob@hotmail.com with your question by 12:00 PM EDT Friday, July 11th. All correct entries will be placed into an actual hat (probably my beloved Philadelphia Phillies cap) and Alex will pull out the lucky winner. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 14th, Bastille Day, of course. Vive la France!

Don’t miss this opportunity to score one of the truly encyclopedic collections of the art of Courbet! And while you’re strolling around the Abbeville Press site, check out The Abbeville Manual of Style blog by Abbeville’s Arbiters of Style, the best art publisher blog in the business.

[Many thanks to Abbeville Press for sponsoring this amazing giveaway.]

Faux Legalese:

(1) Please, only one entry per e-mail address.
(2) All employees of Art Blog By Bob and their families are ineligible for this prize. Sorry, Mom. Alex, you’ll have to wait until you’re strong enough to lift Daddy’s copy.
(3) Any disputes regarding the outcome of this contest must be submitted to the official contest judge, Alex. He’s two. Ever try arguing with a two year old? If you have any success, please let us know your secret.

Post-Game Show

Judge. Jury. Executioner.

Well, I'm one step closer to meeting Alex Trebek (above) face to face. Just by passing the online test, I became eligible to be called to appear on Jeopardy! sometime in the next 18 months. The best way to increase your chances, we were told, were to be personable and play the game right (i.e., keep smiling!). I did pretty well on the 50-question test (one art question?!?), nailed a couple toughies in the mock game with the buzzers (both of which drew some "oohs" from the room), and came off as charming and entertaining in the interview (if I do say so myself). Sorry that I can't be too specific about questions and answers, but we're sworn to secrecy as those same questions get used in later auditions. Although my brain actually hurt after concentrating so hard for two and a half hours, it was a lot of fun and Annie and I are still really excited over my perhaps getting on the TV and, perhaps, winning some moolah with my vast mental collection of useless facts. I'm going to try to lay off obscure facts for a least a couple of days, after overloading for the last couple of weeks. Did you know that Woodrow Wilson is on the $100,000 bill? Or that James Garfield was our only ambidexterous president? Well, I do, and no sane person really should.

Thanks to everyone who commented below with good vibrations and suggestions on how to cram even more knowledge into my cranium. If I ever get the call to California, I'll be sure to let you all know.

What Is Jeopardy!?

The fates have smiled upon me and I’ve been invited to trek up to New York City today to audition for my favorite game show—Jeopardy! I found out a few weeks ago that my score from the online test was good enough to get me into the next round, where I’ll be answering another round of fifty questions, playing a mock game, and interviewing with the casting crew. If I do well enough, I plunge into the great pool of contestants from whom they’ll pick for the next 18 months. If I get picked from that pool, I then swim in a smaller pool that goes to Los Angeles to appear on the show, but there’s no guarantee of getting on camera even then. If I can get through all that, you may finally see stand before the all-powerful Alex Trebek and say “Well, Alex, you see, I write this blog…” The toughest part of the audition round, aside from trying to drum up five interesting anecdotes about myself, has been schooling myself on geography, my weakest subject. For the last few weeks, I’ve had my nose in an atlas and almanac, hoping to cram in enough worldliness to give me more of a fighting chance than just blindly guessing “What is Kuala Lumpur?” Wish me luck and pray for lots of arts and literature questions.