DIA
Monday, January 29th, 2007 Another episode envolving the Detroit Institute of Art took place in 1965-66 or thereabout. The annual Michigan juried art exhibit ( Founders Society ) had been going on for years. The usual fare, realistic regionalism and the current abstract expressionism was pretty much the offering. Opening night to these affairs displayed paintings floor to ceiling : very few rejects it seemed.
Suddenly in 1966, a New York artist of the “hard edge ” school named George Ortman, was selected as that years sole juror.
Well ! He swept the board….final selection amounted to 40 paintings., instead of the usual 200. Nearly all were hard edge and pop art. All others were tossed out, including mine. A memorable painting in the show as I recall was a small one 9×12 ” , all black with the word ” cat ‘ crudely printed on.
The Michigan art scene was shaken to it’s foundation. From that year forward, New York art dictated the direction of art throughout the country. Probably, the local art scene needed a jolt. For better or worse, things changed.
There were more trips to New York and the gallery circuit. Art magazine circulation expanded A whole new point of view developed. Art schools flourished. We had to decide whether we were Sunday painters or Professional.