Can’t Celebrities ‘Scribble a Little Something’ Too?

Art critic Christopher Knight writes about the “sudden burst” of shows by artists whose celebrity is in another field in his commentary, “Celebrity Art Exhibitions a Sign of Tough Times for Galleries” (Calendar, Feb. 4). He states that this approach “cheapens the level of artistic quality in the current gallery scene, which cannot be good for anyone,” and says that this “surely bespeaks the rather tough times in the art market at the moment.”

Not very surely at all, Mr. Knight. What it “bespeaks” is the proven judgment of some very talented gallery people who must put their taste to the test of educated art buyers every time they open their doors. To underwrite an exhibit is to subject not only the artist’s talent but the gallery owner’s talent to that harshest of reviews, repeat trade.

To give him his due, Knight is half right. These are discouraging times for those of us who deal in the sale of art. But half-right at least leaves room for being half-wrong. His sermon doesn’t give the Los Angeles art public much credit for being able to differentiate between legitimate art and celebrity signature (“the potential audience these galleries now are courting . . . can’t be counted on to recognize the artistic redundancies on display before them”).

We live in a time not unlike the Renaissance, for there are many vehicles of expression available to the artist. There are many musician-actors, writer-directors, dancer-actors, painter-musicians, and so forth. Would Knight prefer to keep Dudley Moore off the screen or off the concert stage?

The night Woody Allen won the best-director Oscar, he was tooting his clarinet at Michael’s in New York . . . clearly a man who can’t make up his mind. Would Knight please be kind enough to point Woody in the right direction? Obviously, popular New York boites had fallen on tough times too. Michael’s must have needed Allen’s signature riffs to push the beer.

In his review, Knight did manage a nod to writer William S. Burroughs, but generally attacked dual-media artists Dennis (director-actor) Hopper and pop singer Joni Mitchell. Most horrendous of all, Knight found sculptor Don Gummer guilty of celebrity-by-association, noting that he’s married to Meryl Streep.

It was either serendipity or sharp editorial comment that contiguous to the Christopher Knight article on this dark day for performers foolish enough to dare the finer arts was a quote from that inspired actor Kevin Kline: “I want my wife (actress Phoebe Cates) to be a movie star and my son to be a movie star so they can support me. I want to be an artist. I want to paint. . . . I’ve never tried it. I just feel that’s where my real talent is. Once I’ve exhausted this acting thing, I’m going to sit down and test my theory.”

Not if Christopher Knight sees you first, Kevin.

Signature, celebrity and art have had a mixed marriage since the beginning of time. People view and collect all three for different reasons, whether the times are tough or not.

The story is told about Picasso, who, after dining at Le Procope in Paris, was handed the menu again with the request that he “scribble a little something” in lieu of paying the bill. Picasso promptly signed his celebrated signature and handed back the bill. The maitre d’ was upset and asked the master why he didn’t draw a picture. Picasso replied, “My dear fellow, I only wish to pay for the meal, not buy the entire restaurant.”