Edition: U.S. / Global

A Life Spent Asking, 'What Is Art?'

Published: June 22, 1997

To the Editor:

Regarding the June 15 letter, written in response to the June 1 article about me, that began ''Oh, come on; that's not art.''

I believe that significant art of all cultures (and my painting in particular) transmits intellect and soul, cultural heritage and contemporary experience, emotion and point of view. Artists are the barometer of their time, their city or town, their country.

I speak abstractly, joining many other artists of the 20th century, using the visual language of color and substance, gesture and mark, gathering these basic elements into whole images, complex enough to be looked at and responded to endlessly. While art exists on its own and, like a mountain to a climber, just is itself, it invites the seer's interpretation and response, varying with each individual's capacity to respond to the art or the mountain peak. My painting is concerned with the present time yet pays homage to my ancestors.

Art of the 20th century has been committed to confronting the viewer, rather than comforting, in part echoing the ongoing realities of existence. I prefer to stick to basic dualities, as I think we can all recognize their meaning within our own experience.

I continue to ask ''What is art?'' daily, in the studio, the museum, the gallery. I plan on spending the rest of my life asking and answering this question.



The author is a painter and assistant curator for New Jersey art at the State Museum.