1/5 calvin b. 2 years ago on Google
The
USF
Contemporary
Art
Museum
is
a
small
museum
with
two
good
sized
rooms.
I
concluded
that
these
artworks
were
chosen
based
upon
the
blather
that
the
artists
said
about
their
work.
Actual
art
objects
were
far
below
expectations.
If
any
of
these
were
left
in
one
of
my
apartments,
I
would
not
hesitate
to
throw
them
out.
However,
the
little
commentary
plaques
were
extremely
entertaining,
near
hysterical.
Some
examples:
One
display
consisted
of
some
ceramic
chunks.
They
looked
like
the
cutoffs
from
someone
making
extruded
products.
They
were
painted
so
that
it
looked
like
someone
was
checking
the
spray
paint
cans
before
painting
something
else.
The
plaque
read,
“..
his
ongoing
material
exploration
and
expanding
visual
lexicon
transcends
ancient
and
modern
forms
of
communication
and
invites
decoding
and
interpretation
from
multiple
perspectives.”
Never,
outside
of
political
speech
have
I
heard
such
a
string
of
non-sequitur
phrases.
This
museum
is
fascinating.
There
was
a
waterfall
looking
display
that
appeared
to
be
made
of
crocheted,
red
painted
trash
bags.
It
was
kind
of
attractive.
The
plaque
read,
“..
the
material
exploration
of
crochet
stitching
as
a
transformative
act
which
honors
the
strength
and
residency
of
abused
women,
materially
interwoven
with
the
trauma
and
power
carried
and
contained
within
their
bodies
and
psyche”.
I
suppose
that
these
works
become
meaningful
if
enough
cultural
catch
phrases
are
applied.
Another
exhibit
looked
like
damaged
mattresses
with
trash
thrown
into
the
holes.
The
plaque
read,
“...
work
melds
corporeal
and
geological
...
gaping
orifices
that
gesture
a
link
between
our
own
skin
and
the
surface
of
the
earth....
The
rich
velvet
and
utilitarian
canvas
comment
on
society’s
preoccupation
with
superficial
status
as
we
face
certain
failure
with
the
impending
climate
crisis”.
That
interpretation
must
be
obvious
to
someone.
Apparently
these
works
of
art
are
created
only
for
display
in
these
museums.
Who
else
would
want
them?
These
hidden
works
of
art,
inaccessible,
sequestered,
in
an
art
community
whispering
secrets
to
each
other,
self
congratulating
society
with
no
commercial
or
cultural
impact,
a
nursing
home
for
ineptitude.
I
see
that
this
exhibit
was
put
together
by
the
Curator
of
Public
Art
and
Social
Practice
at
the
USF
Institute
for
Research
in
Art.
How
could
there
be
a
paid
position
that
is
more
removed
from
reality
or
even
accountability?
Keep
those
catch
phrases
going,
you’ll
keep
getting
funding.
Indirectly,
I
suppose,
from
me.
