Light

Is it the light in this country? Why do we get the seasonal exposure of artists? Of course the tradition of commerce has made from now till November 'Art' time yet George Shaw, whose work pays little head to season, with his tremendous Baltic show is finally getting the press he deserves. I hear he is a Turner nominee, I hope this is true, it would be truly fantastic for him to win. The Turner Prize is a joke in many ways yet it is an influential joke. So many great artists find themselves in art schools being told to loosen up, try some installation, forget your drawing skills they only hold you back. The abillity to draw is the abillity to look, the skill to see. For far too long has art been made a joke of. Any fool who has bought some work from recent years due to advice from those who 'know' what will grow in value rather than something that moved them has only themselves to blame. A huge ammount of work bought in the Blair Brown years will lose value, but then , if that was your aim,you bought it for the wrong reason.