Thursday, September 30, 2004
4 year old art prodigy?
This story below made me think of this quote from the art critic Clement Greenburg..
"In visual arts, prodigies don't count. In music and literature, yes, but not in art."
Clement Greenburg
Child art prodigy wows New York
"A four-year-old girl is wowing the New York art world with paintings that are drawing comparisons with Jackson Pollock and Wassily Kandinsky.
Marla Olmstead, from Binghamton, in New York state, has been painting since just before she was two years old.
Using brushes, spatulas, her fingers and even ketchup bottles, she is creating canvases of six by six foot.
The prodigy has already sold about 25 paintings, raising $40,000 (£22,000) and a new exhibition opens on Friday."
bbcnews
¶ 7:44 AM
"In visual arts, prodigies don't count. In music and literature, yes, but not in art."
Clement Greenburg
Child art prodigy wows New York
"A four-year-old girl is wowing the New York art world with paintings that are drawing comparisons with Jackson Pollock and Wassily Kandinsky.
Marla Olmstead, from Binghamton, in New York state, has been painting since just before she was two years old.
Using brushes, spatulas, her fingers and even ketchup bottles, she is creating canvases of six by six foot.
The prodigy has already sold about 25 paintings, raising $40,000 (£22,000) and a new exhibition opens on Friday."
bbcnews
¶ 7:44 AM
Hmm, I'm wondering if Greenburg was wrong. I don't think he was. Rather, this points out that part of the art community accepts art too quickly and doesn't fully realize the artistic limitations of a child. How could a 4-year-old child fully realize and express mature emotion and mature intellect? (That is a rhetorical question.)
But if they are paying so much for her work, I have some pieces from my niece which scream modern art. They are on the fridge, I'll get them.
But if they are paying so much for her work, I have some pieces from my niece which scream modern art. They are on the fridge, I'll get them.
My cousin is leagally blind, would his art count? I can put some acrylics in the plastic honey jar and tell him to squeezzzzzzzzz.
This is just depressing; the gallery owner in cahoots with the girl's father using this little girl as the lastest gimmick to make money.
Sad.
And doesn't say much for abstract artists either, if people are willing to believe that a four year old, given good oil paints and a large canvas, can produce work equivalent to an adult's.
There is no such thing as a visual art prodigy, primarily because a small child does not have the fine motor coordination needed to draw or paint realistically.
Many if not most abstract artists can work realistically but choose to express themselves diffferently. A child cannot; they're just learning.
Sad.
And doesn't say much for abstract artists either, if people are willing to believe that a four year old, given good oil paints and a large canvas, can produce work equivalent to an adult's.
There is no such thing as a visual art prodigy, primarily because a small child does not have the fine motor coordination needed to draw or paint realistically.
Many if not most abstract artists can work realistically but choose to express themselves diffferently. A child cannot; they're just learning.
There's also a lot of physical work involved in creating an exhibition of paintings, especially if the works are quite large.. Im not sure a 4 year old would be up to it.
give me a break. unless one can offer a cogent definition of why the painting you're making is art, it's not art. The fountain is still criticized as a piece of plumbing and not a work of art. but at least duchamp argued for the merits of his fountain as art in the letter from "r. mutt" to the juried show. I'm unaware of any writings of interviews or general philosophical positions of this child. I'm not saying that art is restricted to a certain quantity of time or a bottom line age restriction. but I doubt this girl could articulate why ketchup serves as a better medium than acrylic on her pieces...besides saying "I felt like it". (And "I felt like it" isn't a valid position unless one understands the concepts of autographic drawing and surrealism).
You can't say clem is wrong about kid prodigies if this girl probably can't even define the principles of painting. Child music prodigies understand harmony, scale, and the notion of dissonance. The music prodigy can tell you the effect of a seventh chord versus a fifth. Can this "painting prodigy" explain the concept of chiaroscuro, or even the effects of shading? One needs to know why he or she is an artist...why he or she creates...this is not something that one needs to go to the Ecole des beaux-arts to learn...an uneducated person can certainly define why he or she creates and what he or she hopes to express through his or her creations. what are the reasons that this 4 year old creates? "because I like the pretty colors?"...why does she feel the need to produce paintings? "because I like to"? why is she working in painting and not sculpture? "my mommie won't let me work with metal because it could hurt me"?...these are not calculated responses (despite the fact that they were calculated when offered by warhol)...does she understand the ramifications of working in paint in a post-modern world...No...nor should she...she's four!...does she understand the significance of working in abstraction and not representation? no...but matisse, picasso and rauschenberg could give her a good lesson on that.
I'm happy this girl makes money for charities. But I hope her parents aren't pimping her out for fame and a career she has yet to understand. I would encourage her to keep painting...they say picasso was a prodigy there were some wonderful pieces from when he was 12 that I saw in a Boston MFA show several years ago...but they didn't refer to him as an artist until he was about 18. She probably has talent...I have no doubt about that. But is she a great artist yet?...nope...to be a great artist one needs to know what that means first. Clem was right on the money.
You can't say clem is wrong about kid prodigies if this girl probably can't even define the principles of painting. Child music prodigies understand harmony, scale, and the notion of dissonance. The music prodigy can tell you the effect of a seventh chord versus a fifth. Can this "painting prodigy" explain the concept of chiaroscuro, or even the effects of shading? One needs to know why he or she is an artist...why he or she creates...this is not something that one needs to go to the Ecole des beaux-arts to learn...an uneducated person can certainly define why he or she creates and what he or she hopes to express through his or her creations. what are the reasons that this 4 year old creates? "because I like the pretty colors?"...why does she feel the need to produce paintings? "because I like to"? why is she working in painting and not sculpture? "my mommie won't let me work with metal because it could hurt me"?...these are not calculated responses (despite the fact that they were calculated when offered by warhol)...does she understand the ramifications of working in paint in a post-modern world...No...nor should she...she's four!...does she understand the significance of working in abstraction and not representation? no...but matisse, picasso and rauschenberg could give her a good lesson on that.
I'm happy this girl makes money for charities. But I hope her parents aren't pimping her out for fame and a career she has yet to understand. I would encourage her to keep painting...they say picasso was a prodigy there were some wonderful pieces from when he was 12 that I saw in a Boston MFA show several years ago...but they didn't refer to him as an artist until he was about 18. She probably has talent...I have no doubt about that. But is she a great artist yet?...nope...to be a great artist one needs to know what that means first. Clem was right on the money.
A Gimmick. Nothing more.
The question is really one of honesty and integrity. It is very easy and tempting to be dishonest when interpreting and commenting upon art. As the stakes can be very high, we understand why this happens. With the right promotion and backing, an utter piece of garbage can go for thousands of dollars.
What is appalling is the semblance of professional reporting by these alleged "art" critics and journalists.
The claim of her being precocious is utter nonsense. She is playing with paints. However, she is getting away with what many adult artists get away with-- passing off meaningless refuse as art.
I propose we set up a simple controlled study. Any "critic" advocating her alleged genius should be given slides of 10 "paintings" created by 10 different 4-year olds. I highly doubt the critic could pick out the supposed prodigy.
Kudos to the family though. It is very hard to convince anyone to part with their money. To sell a worthless playtime remnant for thousands of dollars-- priceless.
The question is really one of honesty and integrity. It is very easy and tempting to be dishonest when interpreting and commenting upon art. As the stakes can be very high, we understand why this happens. With the right promotion and backing, an utter piece of garbage can go for thousands of dollars.
What is appalling is the semblance of professional reporting by these alleged "art" critics and journalists.
The claim of her being precocious is utter nonsense. She is playing with paints. However, she is getting away with what many adult artists get away with-- passing off meaningless refuse as art.
I propose we set up a simple controlled study. Any "critic" advocating her alleged genius should be given slides of 10 "paintings" created by 10 different 4-year olds. I highly doubt the critic could pick out the supposed prodigy.
Kudos to the family though. It is very hard to convince anyone to part with their money. To sell a worthless playtime remnant for thousands of dollars-- priceless.
Ok, I agree that most children haven't yet developed the motor skills to produce "fine" art, but some children most definitely have developed a need for expression, and the products can be stunning. I've seen a drawing made by a 6 year old boy that displayed such an awareness of form and light and shadow, things that took me YEARS to really get and to fine-tune. For some of us, this kind of awareness can be learned, for others it won't ever be really understood, and for others still, it doesn't need to be taught, only nurtured.
just the perfect example of how curators and gallery owners have lost there touch with what fine arts really is.
wow 4 years old? hhmmmm. next time i decide to paint i will put my canvas in front of me with my brushes and paint then blind fold myself and get to work..maybe if she was 8 i will believe this child prodigy story but 4 years old??? maybe she is with a guided hand ;o)
Let me start off by saying this: I know Mark Olmstead, Marla's father.
Mark always was, and is, a glory hound. He was an athlete in High School, but never a star. He failed to progress because he lacked the ability.
He was a mediocre student at best.
His favorite line when he was in school and shortly thereafter was "don't you know who I am? I'm Mark Olmstead, number 10, quarterback for Binghamton High!" Now it would seem his calling card is "Marla's DAD."
Nobody in this area has ever believed the hype.
Let me say as a person that knows Mark and knows him well I don't believe that his daughter is painting the final product that they are selling.
I do believe that she paints a portion of them and that Mark finishes them. If you watch the film taken by the hidden camera you can plainly see that she sloshes around with the brush, covers over things and randomly places shapes and other globs of paint on the canvas. Not nearly the polished, united presentation you see in the gallery.
I hope that she is a prodigy, but I believe that she is a normal four year old with opportunistic parents.
I know Mark, and this has living vicariously and sucking up the attention written all over it.
Mark always was, and is, a glory hound. He was an athlete in High School, but never a star. He failed to progress because he lacked the ability.
He was a mediocre student at best.
His favorite line when he was in school and shortly thereafter was "don't you know who I am? I'm Mark Olmstead, number 10, quarterback for Binghamton High!" Now it would seem his calling card is "Marla's DAD."
Nobody in this area has ever believed the hype.
Let me say as a person that knows Mark and knows him well I don't believe that his daughter is painting the final product that they are selling.
I do believe that she paints a portion of them and that Mark finishes them. If you watch the film taken by the hidden camera you can plainly see that she sloshes around with the brush, covers over things and randomly places shapes and other globs of paint on the canvas. Not nearly the polished, united presentation you see in the gallery.
I hope that she is a prodigy, but I believe that she is a normal four year old with opportunistic parents.
I know Mark, and this has living vicariously and sucking up the attention written all over it.
7 year old prolific writer with 300,000 words in 14 months, first book "Flying fingers" will be out in Oct. www.adorasvitak.com
http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_painting.htm
If you dont believe in child prodigies who can make art as well as conceptualize it with mature intellect and emotions, this will definately make you believe. She is Akiane and she has been painting since she was 4 years old. She writes beautiful poetry too.
If you dont believe in child prodigies who can make art as well as conceptualize it with mature intellect and emotions, this will definately make you believe. She is Akiane and she has been painting since she was 4 years old. She writes beautiful poetry too.
# posted by 
: 6:31 PM
: 6:31 PM
I bet Akiane and the bunch are all fakes. (except maybe Marla -- her art just sucks) Why isn't there a video showing Akiane painting from beginning to end. The closest thing is her applying black paint over an area that's already black. There are stills though. It's like, let aunty paint for a while. Now, honey, sit still and hold the brush. Now smile for gullible America
# posted by : 12:51 PM
: 12:51 PM
4 year old's can surprise you when doing art - have a look at what some 3-4 year olds have achieved at our art school - http://www.kwaskiddies.com/Gallery/14Junie2006.asp
her art looks just as good as many of the modern artists out there now, how can you say she is not a prodigy if people 20 years her senior are painting practicaly the same things?
they do have videos of her painting pieces beginning to end. get one & watch it if you don't believe them. it would be impossible to pull this off, too many people these days would investigate it & rat you out. get the smoking gun on it. they outed james frey to oprah. akiane was on oprah too. i'm sure she would have her family back, & let them have it if they were fakes. give the little girl a break.
# posted by : 8:49 PM
: 8:49 PM
THAT is not art. There is no beauty in a bunch of colors randomly splashed all over a canvas. Looking at these canvases with paint on them does make me smile, chuckle even as I wonder what kind of sucker would pay more than the cost of the canvas for these.
Reminds me of all the abstract "art" running rampant in the 80's early 90's that would be no more than a picture of a red square with a yellow circle overlapping it or something, and a squiggly line somewhere else with a few thousand dollar pricetag slapped on it and voila! Art!
Abstract art is just a joke created by people who want to be artists, but have no real talent.
Reminds me of all the abstract "art" running rampant in the 80's early 90's that would be no more than a picture of a red square with a yellow circle overlapping it or something, and a squiggly line somewhere else with a few thousand dollar pricetag slapped on it and voila! Art!
Abstract art is just a joke created by people who want to be artists, but have no real talent.
# posted by : 11:23 AM
: 11:23 AM
I do think that Mark should get some credit for inspiring Marla to paint. Whether someone help Marla with finishing the painting or not; the documentary has shed light and left an open-end. That is to say that if people are willing to pay a lot for Marla's painting, it is because it is worth that much to the buyers because of its aesthetic appeal or something special about the painting. It is the decision of the buyer themselves. It will not be right to buy Marla's painting simply because of her age and not the creativity or aesthetic appeal in her painting.
I do see that Marla's parents truly love their children from the documentary. Pushing the child too hard to help her express herself and her talents; may have negative effects such as possibly forgoing her play or interaction time with other children of her age.
I do wish that people can be kinder in their words to Marla's paintings and her family. This is a young family, like many others that has struggles in many ways. They do not need to be discouraged by others.
All parents hope that their children would be successful and the family would have stability and happiness. I hope that people will be supportive of this family and be kinder. After all, Marla has put in a great deal of time into each of those painting. And her efforts should not be belittled.
I do feel that Marla's painting are very beautiful, it is "matured" like how the documentary described it, but it also captures Marla's innocence , honesty and intelligence. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Blessings to this very special family!
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I do see that Marla's parents truly love their children from the documentary. Pushing the child too hard to help her express herself and her talents; may have negative effects such as possibly forgoing her play or interaction time with other children of her age.
I do wish that people can be kinder in their words to Marla's paintings and her family. This is a young family, like many others that has struggles in many ways. They do not need to be discouraged by others.
All parents hope that their children would be successful and the family would have stability and happiness. I hope that people will be supportive of this family and be kinder. After all, Marla has put in a great deal of time into each of those painting. And her efforts should not be belittled.
I do feel that Marla's painting are very beautiful, it is "matured" like how the documentary described it, but it also captures Marla's innocence , honesty and intelligence. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Blessings to this very special family!
# posted by : 4:27 AM
: 4:27 AMSee our comments policy Comment spam will be deleted
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