Pollock and intention.

Jackson Pollock, Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist),1950, National Gallery of Art, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund,

While I’m on the subject of fractals, and thereby Jackson Pollock, what’s the deal with Mr.Pollock? More specifically, the lack of respect his work receives by the general public. I think it’s because nearly everyone has at some point spilled something, dripped something, may even have thought, Hey, that looks cool. They just never thought any further.

I know people who have seen Pollock’s work and said, I could do that. And have, or a reasonable facsimile. But that’s nowhere near the same as having had the original thought.

“That looks cool” is not the definition of art. Of cool maybe, but not art.

Or is it? A short quiz. Think of intention.

An artist or an ape?

And here is an opportunity, from Miltos Manetas, to release your own inner Pollock.

www.jacksonpollock.org

But is what you have done art? The National Gallery of Art's Jackson Pollock pages are very good.

Richard Harrington

Artist living in Oregon.