Art Critics (Part 1)

My uncle, John Lynch, attended art school at Bradley University from 1946 to 1948. The art department had an exhibition on campus. My uncle, who saved much ephemera from his life, saved the comment book from that exhibition. I don't know how he got it, because it actually has the name of Frank P. Suto Jr. (another student) written on the inside cover. I find many of these comments timeless. Also note entry number 42 by P.R. Mc. He is P.R.McIntosh, head of the Bradley Art Department at the time. He is a well known Illinois artist.

1. Very interesting- there is evidence of great talent here. Very inclusive exhibit o f modern art. Especially good abstracts. A good start, I hope to see more.
2. Eliminate the abstracts. M.B.
3. Not educated to appreciate the abstracts but found all others interesting. V.W.
4. The Gouache pastel is charming. The “Keys made and Peoria Side 4” show talent. Mr. Lynch’s “First Man in” is fine.
5. The “First Man In” wonderful painting meaning easily grasped by onlooker- feeling captured by painter- excellent. S.M.
6. “Washington Square” very realistic, well illustrated, coloring excellent. S.M.
7. Are these students sure that theirs is a proper approach to true art, one that will create art, one that will create art acceptable to others and remuneration to themselves?
8. It is very helpful to have the notes from the artist giving his interpretation of the picture- otherwise to many of us it means nothing.
9. Some heathen tribes distort their necks with bands of jewelry. The Bradley students do it with oil paint.!!
10. John Lynch and Ray Howard (Still Life) seem to know where they’re going. I’ll take “First Man In” and you can have all the rest. R.C.
11. “Maybury Portrait”s, John Lynch portrait & “First Man In” very good. Some of the watercolor landscapes good- as for the abstracts- They look even better upside- down.
12. Pope’s “Landscape” & the “First Man In” appeal to my uneducated eye. Washington Square would if it had more depth. The abstracts offend me. W.B.C.
13. “Waterfall”, “Landscape” and “Still Life” by Greenwood- give evidence of both- study & talent- Some excellent paints in all others too- Thanks for this opportunity of viewing the results of these young peoples’ efforts- Success to you all! E.T.
14. This exhibition is one of the most enthralling exhibitions and exciting I have ever seen. Here is created the subconscious emotions of the artist along with the conscious. Each painting is brilliantly executed on the picture plane. Movement Is obtained by the plastic manipulation of color instead of the traditional molding of form. The statue form of reality is absent and in its place is put emotion, movement and expression as portrayed by the artists by use of plastic organization. True pictorialization cannot exist in our modern age. Hurray for the Bradley students. KRUPNIK
15. A mixture of trash, fairly good work and otherwise.
16. Abstractions, in painting, are somewhat a waste of time and material, except for the artist himself. Since they pretend to give his subconscious feelings, it would be (and is) meaningless to anyone else. B.F. Brem
17. “Kilroy was here too!” So was Donaldson.
18. Why teach these students to believe so whole heartedly that abstract painting is the best & only kind of art?
19. Where’s the art? You’re exhibiting?
20. Art….. Is that what you call it these days?
21. Art???????
22. Fine exercises! When do we see the finished products? I prefer John Lynch’s work.
23. Excellent display. Shows originality & force. Liked Suto’s self-portrait especially although resemblance isn’t striking. A Bradley student
24. If this is the best that Bradley can offer a student in art no wonder so many Bradley art student are getting transferred. A Bradley art student
25. A very impressive display of talent, some, however, have succeeded where others haven’t quite captured the essence of painting, as a whole very good, more work of this sort to enlightened the public in relation to modern art. J.F.
26. All I can say is ha, ha!! A Bradley student.
27. I wanted to take lessons in landscape painting at Bradley- Mr. McIntosh said that was not art- only calendar work- If this is a display of the art they teach at Bradley- I don’t think I’s care to be an artist- If this is art, Lord help us. A few paintings have merit.
28. I think that this art exhibit is a very talented one. I especially like the Mayberry paintings at the back of the room though very talented artists have made the others. Donald Reed, a Woodruff Student (Soph)
29. A very interesting exhibit to me who knows nothing about “art” the most pleasing thing in the whole exhibit was the portrait of the actor by John Lynch. I was revolted by “Enurantant (?) for the Eye”! R.V.H.
30. Some of them show a fine insight but many show that they are students’ work. – that’s all right but why be so obvious? Even in abstract work, it is not interesting when the imagination is bludgeoned instead of seduced. H.M.B.
31. Especially appealing were: Last Man In; The Medusa Tree& Sand Valley; The latter showed all the artist set out to do. As a whole the exhibit is mediocre”. C….
32. I agree on “Last Man In”, “The Medusa Tree” & “Sand Valley”; “Dark in New York City” Is pleasing- The pastel portraits seem suitable with covers of pulp magazines.
33. This exhibition shows how far true art has fallen in the present tyranny of instructors who tell them to exhibit their ignorance and call it their souls.
34. I think all of the art work exhibited here is a credit to Bradley University School of Fine Arts. Particularly impressing , I believe, was “Last Man In”. I believe there should be more of these exhibits and a greater number of paintings in each display.
35. The fact that this exhibit seems to be ridiculed proves beyond a doubt that it has started the public to think.
36. It’s about time people found a use for non-commercial art other tan a mere momentary glance that’s new product. I refer to and I do believe that this exhibit accomplished that to a certain degree.
37. Modern art is wonderful. It’s about time people started painting their particular mood and visions and painted what they SEE and FEEL instead. Shirley
38. I am not one to appreciate the modern moods. The Medusa Tree, Sand Valley and Portrait of Sis were especially appealing. Joy
39. There isn’t any modern art! There is no definition for art. Art is a feeling, deep-rooted. That unearthly feeling is produced by these pictures. These pictures are certainly a credit to Bradley, but more so to art. P.S. “The Lecture” picture will explain my comment. “Congrat”
40. Appreciate tags on each drawing. Often wished it was word in exhibitions. But first time I’d seen it done. Must take gumption. Intend to come back. Interesting & much variety like John Lynch and most of the others. – Also Suto’s self portrait. Having youse write comments Is clever too.
41. Since I am a watercolor enthusiast, I appreciated them more than the others. Elaine Walsh & Don White have that watercolor talent and paint on their pulses. They have captured the essence of water color transparency and would like to see more of their work. Contrary to the many opinions ridiculing modern art & abstractism, I believe these works of art should be admired, They show a complete change over from traditional “pretty” forms of art and offer new fields to conquer to the student. It offers new versatility to students. Congratulations to Bradley Art Dept. and all those Art instructors who helped incite these fine examples of student work! Let’s see more!! Charles Greenwood’s still life is reminiscent of Ivan Albright paintings, Very good.
42. I want to congratulate the Artagore Club of Bradley on its initiative and courage in arranging a show which is so characteristic of true reality; namely movement and change. The most positive thing around is change. Why indeed should art remain stationary? Perhaps you students are changing your visual expression more rapidly than some and hence the stimulation which causes these comments but in the final analysis, validity will depend on the degree to which contemporary events, all vital native uses its pas as a stepping stone not as a place to bide in security. P.R.Mc
43. You tell’em Mac! A.K.

Changing Blog Directions

My vacation from my blog has lasted long enough. It's clear that I have been enjoying my time off, but am less productive (and happier) with my limited schedule. Since one of my major interests is fine arts, especially painting, I will devote most of my blogs in the near future to commenting in some way on "art". Since my last entry I have joined the Sebastopol Art Center and started volunteering there. I have taken a figure drawing class and plan soon to take one in painting. I have thousands of photos to review from my various European trips to museums. There is a plethora of ephemera from my uncle's productive life, including the comments book in 1947 when his Art department at Bradley exhibited student work. And of course always my sometimes informed and sometimes uninformed opinions on art.