Ok, I’ve been kind of discouraged lately. I came across a posting on an artist’s blog that said the CIA backed the Abstract Expressionists. Now, I’m not big on conspiracy theories, even though apparently there has been at least one book on the subject (let me tell you, this is all really big news to me–never heard of this before) and I figured that this was just a realist painter who didn’t like abstract art, which btw I happen to love.

BUT, then I came across an article in the New Yorker Magazine on the same subject. Now, I figure the New Yorker isn’t going to write about some fly by night conspiracy theory unless there is something to it. And the story in the New Yorker talks about Abstract Expression and the CIA. (You’re just going to have to Google it, if you want to find out more about all of this.) The article says that the evidence is “circumstantial.” But, the way I read it it’s pretty convincing circumstantial evidence and it’s in the New Yorker, not some Joe-Blow tabloid in the middle of nowhere.

If it’s true, the whole rational behind the CIA financially backing the Abstract Expressionist during the Cold War was supposed to show the Communist that America appreciated freedom of expression and it was an attempt to get the art center away from Europe to the United State–which did happen.

So what does this say about the state of the art world and the prospects of your average artist whose either trying to make a living or break into the New York gallery scene, or even your average gallery?

If it’s true it means that major movers and shakers way beyond anyone’s control are deciding who succeeds in the art world and who doesn’t.

Now let me just be truly paranoid here. Before 911 the “Academic” realists couldn’t get their foot in the door in New York City. After 911 Academic painters became really big stuff and now they’re everywhere. Not that I don’t think some of the Academic painters like Jacob Collins aren’t brilliant, I do.

But maybe the powers that be wanted culture to reflect an earlier, safer time. Certainly a lot of the realist art out there reflects that. Sometimes I feel culturally like I’m back in the 1850’s.

So I find all of this CIA stuff very discouraging, and I’m still trying to figure out what to really make of it.