New Art Examiner Without Fear or Favor

A picture is not worth a thousand words. Nor do actions speak louder than words. Words are actions. To form a word—whether written or spoken—involves muscle, movement and energy. A word is the definition of an action. Words are the most accessible and precious tool that humankind has. Everyone has equal access to them, and can convey them in defense …

Occasionally, a life lived under immensely stressful, even brutal circumstances forms the crucible for an artist to respond in ways that realize art’s fullest potential as a reflection on human endeavor. A volatile balance of experiences on the societal periphery—beyond the majority’s empiric knowledge—can result in work of such honesty and connectivity that it transcends the specifics of its production, …

With the announcement of the Whitney Biennial’s 2021 curators the next iteration has juddered into production; but should it? From its inception the Biennial’s organizers have made grandiose claims that they had no way—or no intention—of realizing. Nevertheless, it became, and remains the preeminent survey of art-making in the United States. For artists it’s the most prestigious exposition in the …

In this issue: Speakeasy with Annie Markovich Lynda Green on appreciating Edward Hopper Jane Addams Allen and Derek Guthrie from Chicago Tribune on Edward Hopper’s legacy Al Jirikowic, Washington D.C. Editor, looking at Edward Hopper Margaret Lanterman and Phillip Barcio review Expo Chicago 2019 The Legacy of Apathy –  a talk  given by Derek Guthrie in Washington D.C. 2019 John …

Apathy Are you one of the many visitors on our planet who suffers from apathy, without even knowing what this popular malady is? Do you drag yourself around, day after day, going to bed fighting sleepless nights, while searching for meaning in your life? Sounds like something out of the preacher on horseback’s message in the early years of the …

Why Speakeasy? Believe it or not, there was space for a new feature in the early days of the NAE. Jane Allen & Derek Guthrie had the idea to open up the pages to different voices of the artworld, preferably unknown and known personalities. Jane asked me for a suggestion. We had a brainstorm about the title, and shortly Speakeasy …

Edward Hopper has been one of my favourite artists since I started taking an interest in art. Along the wall leading to the cafeteria at school, we had a frieze of Seurat’s pointillist painting, ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Queuing for lunch I lazily examined it and, knowing nothing of pointillism, even the term, I …

Chicago Tribune: Sunday 3rd December 1972 Jane Addams Allen & Derek Guthrie were the art correspondents for the Chicago Tribune for nearly two years. It was only when one of their articles was pulled from the galleys that Jane suggested they publish themselves and start the New Art Examiner in 1974. Their thirst for freedom of speech is our inheritance. …

I think we now have a certain advantage of “time” in respect to our viewing of Edward Hopper’s work. It is how he came into his “own” that I wish to discuss. I am taken by the life of Hopper’s “own”, a “resplendent” throughout his life’s work. Hopper is usually discussed for his take on the lonesome American city or …

Each fall we look forward to Art Expo, and every time it has a new personality. This is what you would expect, as one of the prominent purposes of art is to reflect the current cultural milieu. This makes attendance at the Expo all the more interesting and enjoyable. Last year ‘social conscience’ and ‘interactive content’ were prevalent. Artwork reflected …