the writing and photography of Neil Kramer

Modern Art

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I am here, but do you see me?  I Twitter my voice, but do you know me? 

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I want to step from my box, my canvas, my rectangular prison.

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 I can see your face, but I cannot touch you.

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 I want to feel something.  A touch maybe.  A breath.  Your laughter.

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I imagine you.  Are you wearing red today?  Do you wonder about me?

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Do we look at each other like pieces of art, hanging from the wall, imagining what could be, but never daring?

44 Comments

  1. Neil

    Pretentious?

  2. aka_monty

    I don’t find it the LEAST bit pretentious, I think it perfectly expresses the way some of us feel at times.
    Lovely. 🙂

  3. Hilly

    Have you ever seen “living art” in Laguna Beach or somewhere else? That’s kind of how it is for me. Some people are so pretty to look at and to read but in the end, they take off their masks and become real.

    Now *I* feel pretentious ;).

  4. Alison

    I don’t think it’s pretentious, either.

  5. sweetney

    you rule.

  6. Allan

    I think it is cool.

  7. sizzle

    more people should dare.

  8. Angella

    Great post, Neil. I came due to your Twitter, and glad I did 🙂

  9. 180/360

    I LOVED this. Very up my alley.

  10. 180/360

    Wait?! Does that make me pretentious? NO. Neither is this.

  11. gorillabuns

    i’m sorry, i couldn’t read a word you wrote. i was too engrossed with all the lovely art. lichtenstein, warhol….

  12. teahouseblossom

    Nice post. I love MOMA. But isn’t it outrageous that it’s like, $20 to get in now?

    (shakes head in disbelief).

  13. Rosa

    Not pretentious at all. I know the feeling well.

    Yikes, $20 to get into MOMA now? High, but I’d pay it, haven’t been there in years.

  14. Ash

    I like that Neil. Very dreamy.

    It reminds me of my visit to the Warhol exhibition here in Amsterdam.

    Isn’t it coincidental that we were looking at work by the same artist within a few weeks of each other, in two different countries on two different continents?

  15. communicatrix

    Hilarious and delightful!

    Andy would have totally dug it.

    Oh, and $20, my Aunt Fanny. I go on the free day. Or, as I liked to call it, “The Day I Finally Made an Iota Back on All the Money I Made Wells Fargo” Day.

  16. Julia

    I was there in October, stood in line for over an hour in the pouring rain to get in for free, covered every square foot of the museum for even more hours once I got in. The whole thing was exhausting, but wonderful.

  17. Geeky Tai-Tai

    Oooh! This was very nice, and not the least bit pretentious. It is art; the fine art of writing, Neil.

  18. Miguelina

    Pretentious? No. Refreshing? Yes.

    (I love the dude trying to be Elvis.)

  19. better safe than sorry

    not pretentious, i’m not wearing red today, i’ve never understood that warhol soup thing, i have a problem with people on cell phones in an art gallery and yeah, i am wondering about you right at this very moment. happy thoughts.

  20. Finn

    Oooo… cool. I love this!

  21. Akaky

    modern art……………………………………………………………….well, I suppose it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick…

  22. kerrianne

    Do you wonder if everyone looking at the Campbell’s soup art is thinking, simultaneously, “Mmm, mmm, good”?

    (I do.)

  23. Jessica

    “I want to feel something. A touch maybe. A breath. Your laughter.”

    *Swoon*

  24. psychomom

    Maybe a little highfalutin but I enjoyed it and escaped from my rectangular prison for an instant.

  25. Caitlinator

    Ah, all the works I have been studying for the past two months come flooding back. I actually still even remember the dates of many of these. Sigh.

    Lovely post, Neil.

  26. Neil

    Yes, MOMA was way too expensive, but it still was packed.

  27. melanie

    This is wonderful. thank u.

  28. Bre

    That’s the hard part about art – the looking without the touching.

  29. communicatrix

    D’oh! MoMA, not MoCA. I yam such a doof.

  30. Neil

    MOMA, MOCA, SOMA. LACMA — it all gets confusing.

  31. churlita

    I absolutely love this post.

  32. V-Grrrl

    The courage to be daring increases with age. It’s the best part of passing 40. Not just imagining what you can be, but insisting on claiming at least a part of that dream.

  33. OMSH

    so.true.

    I sometimes wonder what people smell like. Sure I can call and hear them or glance at their photos and “see” them, but to embrace and smell them.

    That comfortable aroma of friendship.

  34. Loralee

    Not pretentious.
    Lovely.

  35. Bec

    This post made me stop and think. You made me use my brain! Truly beautiful (Your post, not my brain)

  36. Dagny

    Thanks for reminding me that I haven’t hit SFMOMA in some time. And they have a free day once a month, as do all of the museums in SF.

  37. Atomic Bombshell

    Nice one, Neil.

  38. Bemused

    Pretentious? Hardly. Inspiring.

  39. Bemused

    Oops… that can be taken the wrong way. I meant it as it IS inspiring :).

  40. Nick

    ” have a problem with people on cell phones in an art gallery”
    LOL,better safe than sorry. Those people are using audio tour equipment at the museum.

  41. Jody

    About 3 years ago I started insisting on getting the audio tour tapes at museums. It was the best thing I have done. Not only to I learn so much more than what is written on the short notes next to the art but I tend to stroll even longer and get my $$ worth for a day at the musuem.

    I liked this post – it was a poem with pictures.

  42. Karl

    A bit too much Twitter in your life?

  43. Whit

    I haven’t been to a museum in so long. This reminded me that I need to go- soon.

  44. kristen

    brilliant.

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