Work of Art: Contrasting Themes (Gold/Poop)

Work of Art

By SexyPanda | Sunday, August 1, 2010 | 2:00 am | 30 Comments
Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in: Featured, Recaps, Work of Art

mark dejection

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, ‘Gasmii!  It’s great to see you back, ready to catch up with what our wunderkind were up to this week on Work of Art.  Did you know that this is the search for the next great artist?  I bet that even when the show concludes on August 10th, we’re still searching for the next great artist.  But one of these jerks will have $100,000 in their pocket and their crap hanging on the wall at the Brooklyn Museum.

Last week, we saw the downfall of Ryan, as the artists were challenged to create a piece of artwork that somehow spoke to something in childhood that led them on the path to being artists.  Ryan’s was too literal, and he was sent packing.  Peregrine won for her thoughtful piece depicting a My Little Pony standing amongst hard-core party trash.  I read up on her piece since the show and my last recap, learning more about the nuance we missed (the height of the podium, and how the party detritus was placed to either hide or be revealed, based on the viewer’s height).  It made me appreciate it more, knowing it wasn’t just an object of childhood showing up as art.

woa702Not as bad as you may have thought.

Since we’ve become this happy little band of commentors, I think it’d be ADORABLE if we could somehow all recreate the opening credits for Work of Art.  Who wants to cock their head like Miles?  Who wants to draw boobs on herself like Jaclyn?  (I can do it!)  Who wants to ball up their work in frustration like Nao?  Anyone?

jackyln boobSexyPanda will take the bullet!

So, this week, we’re down to six artists.  Mark’s all alone in his beaverhausen apartment, having fart-bombed the rest of his opponents out.  He’s sitting at the kitchen table, drawing in his scrapbook diary, missing Ryan.  Jaclyn, in the girls’ apartment, congratulates Peregrine on her win.  Abdi’s making his bed in the other guys’ apartment, fussing about how he hasn’t felt good about things since his own win back in week four (I think), the “Shocking!” challenge.  This may come as a surprise to some of you, but….shhh, Abdi wants to win.

We head off to the studio, where Simon and China are waiting.  Wassup?  Well, this week, we’ll be exploring contrasting themes…and it’s a group challenge. Peregrine ain’t happy, muttering, “Holy shit.”  Everyone laughs, but I think they’re all pretty torn up from the last group challenge and echo her sentiments.   Guess who she probably doesn’t want to work with?  Mark?  Very good guess.

So, again, the stupid paint tubes of doom decide who’s paired with whom. (I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it!)   Again, they have the winner of the last challenge pick first, though it’s all random anyway.  For some reason, this really bothers me.  It’s totally arbitrary, and I guess someone HAS to go first, but still.  Ugh!

Peregrine chooses “heaven/hell.”  Abdi chooses “order/chaos.”  The artists all natter about how cool that theme will be.  Jaclyn gets “male/female.”  Oh, that’s it, we’re seeing tits tonight.  (Mark makes a similar quip, ending with something like, “Eh, once you’ve seen ‘em once, big deal.”)  To round out the pairings, Miles gets “male/female,” Nicole gets “order/chaos,” and … Mark gets “heaven/hell.”    Peregrine’s patience implodes.  Miles is bummed, too–he really wanted to be paired with Nicole.

The artists get to choose who gets what word of the pairings, and Peregrine says overly loudly, “OH, THAT IS INTERESTING.“  That’s her rage, right there.  She’s playing along, but she is seething.  Anyway, one team will win the challenge, but only one artist will be going home tonight.

The artists take the next 30 minutes to plan out their pieces together.  Remember that their pieces need to feed off each other, complement each other.  I hope that no one does anything too matchy-matchy, but I bet it happens.

Nicole and Abdi are both good eggs, and they’re both really enthusiastic people.  So much so that they’re just about talking over each other with excitement about their words (order/chaos) and how similar the concepts actually are, etc.  It’s cute but it’s also frenetic and makes me feel edgy inside.  Nicole asks to take “order,” leaving Abdi with “chaos.”  As usual, Nicole’s already got some kind of idea/concept brewing and Abdi’s got nothin’, so he’s like, “Sure, that’s fine.”  Right away, Nicole’s thinking about some sort of machine that is hand-operated and moves or something.  Abdi’s got no ideas yet.  I think he’d have none even if he were left completely to his own devices, but he’s also got nothin’ to riff off of what Nicole wants to do.  I wish they’d break off and do some more brainstorming and THEN collaborate.

Miles and Boobs are chatting it out.  Miles starts steering the project, which shouldn’t be a surprise.  We all know that Jaclyn would resort to sex anyway.  So, Miles says, “If I do something about a man losing control, will you do something about a woman gaining it?”  “Sure,” Jaclyn demurs.  In another example of Miles knowing he’s creating a good sound byte, he says he’s excited to work with Jaclyn because, based on her past projects, she’s like to come up with something “…saucy.”

So, Miles tells Jaclyn that he wants to build a wall–a “domestic” wall, meaning something you’d find in any ol’ house.  Insulation, drywall, sheetrock, whatever.  And then he wants to punch it once, as hard as he can, and leave that mark.  And that’s it.  Then, a beat later (or, who knows, thanks to the editors), Jaclyn says, “I want to do a painting.”  Miles says, “yeah, that’ll work perfectly.”  HOW?!  How is that going to “work perfectly”?   It’s all bullshit, see?  Anyway, Jaclyn continues that she wants to be aggressive with it.  Whatever THAT means.

Jaclyn also tells us that she’s happy to be paired with Miles, since he’s so good with materials (and the judges think he can do no wrong!).  But she warns us that she knows that he’s manipulative, that if she’s not careful, he’ll convince her to go along with his idea.  So she’s going to be careful to make sure that doesn’t happen.  TOO LATE.

We head over to Mark and Peregrine. I can immediately tell from the body language that Peregrine dislikes Mark and his work, and that Mark KNOWS it.  He appears to be conciliatory about everything, and Peregrine is totally closed off.  Like, to the point of closing her eyes when Mark’s talking.  I haven’t been a big fan of Mark so far, but this is a little heartbreaking to watch.

Mark describes what heaven and hell mean for him, and it’s pretty obvious stuff.  Lightness and purity versus darkness and pain.  Peregrine wants to be more subtle about it, avoid being too literal.  She thinks she can elevate his crappy, literal work with her ideas of high concept.

(And here’s where I gripe about the difference between “literal” and “obvious”.  It’s like that Alanis song about everything being ironic.  No, it’s NOT ironic, it’s just an unhappy coincidence.  This shit here isn’t literal, it’s obvious.  Two different things.  Thank you.)

Mark is still trying, bless him, and Peregrine is still totally closed.  He asks what HER images would be for either heaven and hell, and she murmurs that she hasn’t thought about it yet.  Hey, crabby, this is called “brainstorming”.  Just spit something out, roll it around, and figure it out.  Mark thinks Peregrine’s defensiveness is going to be a real problem for them in this challenge, and I know he’s right.  Even if they win, he’s right.  Anyway, he has an idea of someone nude being pulled into a bright light, and he asks Peregrine if he can shoot her nude.  She is totally dragging her heels about the idea, which seems strange, since she’s all “I grew up in a sex art commune, my sex art was already shown in the Whitney, and I did a nude portrait of Nicole for the first challenge.”  Ya know?  Mark, bless him again, says, “You don’t have to say yes.  I compromise much more than you think I do, I’m really open.”  Peregrine bows her head and nods.  All of a sudden, I really don’t like her.

Peregrine all of a sudden asks Mark about his scar.  What scar?  Oh, this gigantic torso-splitting seam down his belly, that’s all.  Mark suffers from diverticulitis, a condition where pouches form in your intestines, and then those pouches get inflamed.  They can get pretty bad, where your intestines pretty much explode and then you have poop running amuck inside your guttyworks.  (<–that’s bad.)  Apparently, Mark’s guttyworks took a direct hit when he was 18 and that’s how he got some kind of awful scar that Peregrine’s referencing.  Mark’s like, “Um, this scar is, like, big whoop to me, so why should it be in my art?”  Peregrine pretty much insists that he needs to make his art about that scar.  Um, ew, obsessed, much?  Anyway, they keep talking it out, and once it’s all settling out so Peregrine gets her way, she again talks loudly in her discomfort, “ALL RIGHT, GREAT.“  Mark’s doing heaven; she’s doing hell.

And I need to take a moment to get over my anxiety at watching them interact.  Holy shit.

mark and p“So happy together….!  I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you, for all my life!”  (Remember that 80s movie about the twins, and this was the main song? Anyone?)

The artists go shopping.  Mark once again questions why his intestines need to be the landmark for heaven and hell.  Abdi buys up all kinds of shit, not knowing what his project is going to be.  Why am I so stressed out?!  Miles convinces Jaclyn, rather easily, to do whatever she’s doing as a nude.  He tells her he wants to focus on the outward, and then she can focus on the inward.  He tells US this was all a part of his master plan, to get her to go nude.  Nice guy.  I know, I know, it wouldn’t take much of a nudge, if any, for her to get nekkid, but the fact that he’s knowingly manipulating her and then bragging about it is pretty crappy.

Is Peregrine being equally manipulative?  Or is she just controlling and crabby?  When the artists get back with all their junk, she tells Mark that he should do a photograph of his scar and she will reference that photo when she does a drawing for her own piece.  In other words, get movin’, Mark.  He heads up to the roof, gripes (rightfully) about having to take a topless photo of himself, and gets it done.  And I won’t make fun of the bitch-tits and big ol’ lumpy belly.  He’s a big guy, so what?

Hey, wouldn’t this recap be better with some shots of what happened in the first 50 minutes of the show?  Well, thank Bravo for being so slow with putting their full episodes online. Hulu has some selected clips, but it’s not awesome.  Sorry. Really.

Nicole’s bringing out her inner Miles (and I ain’t talking baby goo!  Don’t squirm, who knows what they’re up to in the Beaverhausen!), cuttin’ wood and building this little machine that somehow represents social order, and the pre-determined rules we live by.  I’ll admit it, I don’t get it.  Yet.  Also, Nicole must be worried about something, cuz she’s all blotchy in her confessional.  I think it’s kinda cool that she can work with wood and tools like that (heyooooo!), but I still don’t get it.

Abdi’s stressing out nearby.  He still has no idea what he wants to do with his piece, which should signify chaos.  He’s hanging his head, grimacing at the fact that he just can’t come up with an idea.  I feel for the guy.  He’s really got artistic talent, but he doesn’t seem to know where to go with it.  I don’t know if it’s the constraints of the challenges that keep boggling him or if he’s just too young to have a lot to reference, but it’s maddening to watch.   For now, he’s molding Play-Doh into blobby stalagmites and hoping an idea comes to him.  See, to me, this IS chaos.  No, not the stalagmites necessarily, but the “who knows?” element of his piece.  I think he should jam out on that a bit, but…well, this finished filming at least six months ago and it’s a little late to be advising him of that now.

abdi lump

Back to Miles, coercing Jaclyn even further.  So, he’s already gotten her to agree to go nude (such an arm-twisting!), but now he’s gotten her to think that a depiction of herself masturbating is a good idea.  I wonder if Jaclyn thinks Miles is flirting with her somehow, because her body language starts to turn flirtatious.  She’s massaging her own neck, she’s looking up at him with her doe bug eyes, and so on.  Miles tells her he’s excited to see her piece…well, not “excited”.  Har har.  Mark’s looking on with a judgmental face.

He’s even more judgmental when Jaclyn starts taping up a gauzy sheet around her workstation. See, she’s a private person.  And while she’s working on this gigantic photograph of herself masturbating, she needs privacy.

RIGHT.

(I actually get it, but it does seem pretty fucking ridiculous.)

Miles gets to work on his own piece, now that he’s thoroughly steered Jaclyn into the wilds.  He frames out a wall and then practices punching it.  I hate to admit it, but that really is a simple and effective way to show the idea of man losing control.  I know SO many guys who’ve punched holes in walls, it’s not even funny.  One even punched his car door (on the inside) so hard it shattered the plastic housing all the mechanics inside.  Miles then tells us how he used to punch himself as a kid, sometimes in the back of the neck and sometimes in the hip.  Ah, that explains a lot about Miles all of a sudden.  He’s just a tortured 10th grader in a 20-something’s body.

Peregrine’s hunkered down over a gigantic printout of Mark’s naked belly and moobs.  She tells us she doesn’t have enough time to draw something that reacts to the photograph, so she’ll just need to react to the photograph directly.  Oh, are we going to get LITERAL?  Seriously, though, all of her drawings we’ve seen so far have been relatively simple.  Like, line drawings that give nuance of shape and mood, but aren’t terribly specific or fancy.  So, why not just keep rolling on that?

Mark stops by to see what she’s up to, and she’s very tight with him. Turns out, she cut her thumb while working with his photograph–and that’s why she’s being terse with him.  Ehn, no.  You’re terse about working with Mark, period, and hurting yourself on a stupid picture of stupid Mark just added insult to injury.  Mark’s just like, “Oh no!  Okay, well, whatever!  Sorry?”   She’s putting all these grommets into holes in the photo, around his stomach.  I don’t get it. Mark’s uncomfortable with seeing his naked self.  I’m laughing to myself because I think MY version of hell would be a shot of Mark standing in a Jaclyn-esque masturbatory pose, hand over moobs and other hand buried in his crotch.

marks head on jaclyns

Nicole sees Abdi struggling with his concept and tries to help.  She starts rambling like a total nutter, about supernovas and things from outside the order breathing new life INTO the order, etc.  What?  Then she sums it up by saying it’s like the Allegory of the Cave.  Okay, now she’s lost it.  I mean, she seems to kinda know what the Allegory of the Cave is (and I used to know, but had to look it up), which is fine, I guess.  But Abdi takes it literally, I guess?  Like, we’re talking about an actual cave? And supernovas and order versus chaos?  I know, I know. I’m not smoking anything either, so I just can’t follow.  Abdi feels like he’s got it now, and he heads over to start on a painting of something from a cave.  Aye yaye yaye.

Simon arrives to see how the artists are making it work.  He starts with Miles and Jaclyn.  He nods after Miles explains the drywall punching.  Then he asks Jaclyn what she’s doing in her painting.  “It’s a private sexual act,” she tells him.  He pauses just a moment too long, then says, “Okay!”  He calls it “striking in every way” and tells them to carry on.  I don’t get how her masturbating in a corner near a mirror has anything to do with Miles punching walls, and I’m too distracted with other things in life right now to think very hard about it.  Who’s gonna explain it to me?

Nicole and Abdi are next on Simon’s (shit) list.  Nicole explains her social order wooden game, and Simon’s like, “So people can touch it?”  Yep.  Then Abdi takes his turn to explain his.  Simon looks…terse.  Nicole looks down in obvious discomfort as Abdi totally butchers his regurgitation of Nicole’s ideas about this social order and the cave and whatnot.  He doesn’t get it, and his work won’t go anywhere because he isn’t using his own idea AND he isn’t getting Nicole’s idea right at all.  It’s just awful to watch!

Over to Mark and Peregrine.  Simon’s checking out these photos, this juxtaposition of Heavenly Ham and Wallace and Gromit.  Peregrine’s next sentence, about Mark and his scar, makes me laugh because of its awkward construction.  I know, this nerd crap again, sorry.  She says, “Mark told me a story about being sick when we first met, and…”  I think she means, “When we first met, Mark told me a story about being sick.”  The way she phrased it, though, it sounds like Mark just now told her a story about being sick when he first met her. “Nice to meet you, BLECHHHHH…”   Ah, language.  Oh, and she laughs when she tells Simon of Mark’s stomach exploding, which almost seems inappropriate.  Simon ends his advice session by telling Mark and Peregrine that they’re being too literal right now.

pereg unhappyI’m getting pretty tired of this pissy face.

More footage of everyone working.  Miles gives Abdi props for his colors and advises him to keep going.  Jaclyn thinks Abdi’s work is stuck between “figuration and abstraction” and that hers is a lot more beautiful (because she’s in it, natch!).  (Did I just say “natch”? EW.)  Peregrine put grommets where Mark’s eyes were, which is creepy and cool.  Mark admits he’s being pretty passive with Peregrine, but he also thinks his piece is the more focused of the two.

Miles changes his mind about the mirror in their piece, deciding instead to use some leftover tar that Ryan left behind. (Why was Ryan buying tar??!  For what challenge?  The sculpture one?)  Miles admits to tricking Ryan into not using much of the tar, telling him it was really hard to work with.  So, again, bragging about manipulating people.  This niggling feeling of unrest about Miles is becoming more and more obvious. Let’s just say that a lot of us trusted our guts on this one and are slowly being proven right.

Heading back home to the Beaverhausen, Miles carries Abdi across the threshold like a bride.  HA!  Then he deposits Abdi on the floor.  Hey, that’s not nice!  Mark’s moving in tonight, since he’s alone in his pad and the Miles/Abdi crib has room for more.  Miles isn’t thrilled to have Mark show up, but Abdi does his best to make Mark feel at home.  He sees that Mark is marginalized sometimes and wants Mark to feel comfortable.  What a sweetie.  He still sucks with coming up with ideas for his pieces, but he’s got a heart of gold.  (Was that Miles hanging back in the living room while Abdi showed Mark to his room, saying, “Welcome to Hell”??)

In the morning, Peregrine calls her husband to bitch about Mark.  Well, not really, but that’s the undertone.  She really doesn’t want to go home tonight based on this piece.  (I also think she only left a voicemail, didn’t actually get to speak to her man, unless she always talks over him and never gives him a chance to say “love you too” and “bye”.)  Mark’s hanging out in the kitchen, at least until Miles shows up.  Mark’s pretty self-aware, I have to say.  He notes that Miles is always distant and moody towards Mark, and that it brings out the same qualities in him towards Miles.  Abdi, though, is the high-fivin’ keystone between the two.

Jaclyn’s complaining because the tar wall does nothing to put her piece and Miles’ piece together.  Miles compliments her painting, which is pretty awesome, skills-wise.  Abdi’s is a huge mess, and I mean that in all ways.  It’s just a huge blobby painting.  Peregrine is hot-gluing crap to her Hell-Mark photo, and it’s a mess.  I mean, really, there’s kinda no concept here.   Literal, obvious, or not.  She collects cigarette butts off the street to plug into the grommets, throws glitter at the photo, and cups circles of paint around the grommets.  Again, a total mess. Mark probably feels a little offended right about now!

Miles builds a frame for Jaclyns mastur-painting so it looks like it belongs with his punched wall and tar wall.  Nicole’s struggling to finish her wood crap in time, and Abdi’s stressing about doing something so different from his norm for the second to the last challenge.  Basically, all of these pieces kinda suck.  I hate to say it, but Jaclyn’s is probably the best, even though it’s the same shit she’s been doing all along.

In the “We’re back!  No, we’re not!” segment this week, we see the talking heads of all the artists, feeding us the bullshit that probably got them here in the first place.  Big words, random concepts, and the like, spliced together in one random sentence of art bullshit.  It’s pretty funny.  (My favorite word from the cut is “Panopticon.”)

Okay, time for the gallery show!   Our usual suspects, Salty Jerry and Hairy Billy are on hand for judging.  Puppet Jeanne is still curating a Europe-wide show and won’t be with us.  Our guest judge this week is Ryan McGinness.  From afar, he’s got a James Franco thing going.   Miles steps up with an eager ass-kissing comment for Ryan, telling him he “adores” his black-light installations.  Ryan mocks writing in his notebook, “Duly noted…that Miles is a total kiss-ass douche.”   I can hear the pool cue sound as Miles’ nose brushes up into Ryan’s hinder.  The other artists laugh, and Jerry looks away.  Uncomfortably?

Cynthia Rowley and Samantha Mathis are some of the gallery guests tonight.  (Cynthia, my tank-top with Carrie Bradshaw flower embellishment of yours that I got at TJ Maxx is a little too long–can you please make it better?)   Nicole’s smitten with an artist who comes to the gallery, Terrence Koh.  He’s a favorite of hers.  Kyra Sedgwick is happy to finally be able to touch some art (that’s what he said), as she fingers Nicole’s wood.  (Whoa.)

wtfWTF

mark and kyra“Yeah, yeah.  Get a bra, Mark.”

MJMichael Jackson lives!

The judges seem to like Miles and Jaclyn’s, and they don’t seem to hate Abdi and Nicole’s.  I actually like Abdi’s a lot more now, in the context of the show and in contrast to Nicole’s woodworking.  China tries to move the “norms” through the social order and slams the piece around.  Oops!

jaclyns(Well, we know SOMEONE shaves things bald.)

jerry and ryan“Gentlemen, you’ll need to hide your erections behind your notebooks, please.  Thank you.”

milesPunch!

miles and simon

“See, Simon, she puts her hands on her clit and then she rubs.  And that is how she is a woman who’s taking control, of her own orgasm.  See?  Want her to show you in person?  I bet I can talk her into it.”

abdiChaos!

nicole'sOrder?  Social order?  Huh?

Peregrine and Mark’s is strange, but I kinda like it.  It IS rather obvious, but it’s interesting.  Mark did something with the material his banner was printed on, so that his scar was open to the light behind the piece and light beamed through the scar area.  Meanwhile, cigarettes were put out on Mark’s cartoony body in the hell piece.  Eh, I guess that works!  Except that Bill refers to a Bedazzler when he sees it.  Uh oh!

marksperegrines

Time for the crit.  Mark and Peregrine are first.  Peregrine explains how scared she was when she first saw Mark’s scar, and Mark explains that he’s at peace with it despite its ugliness.  Ryan McGinness asks to see the scar, and Mark happily obliges.  Miles hides his eyes and cringes.  Mark doesn’t miss it, and he points out how people cringe when they see it (MILES) but he’s cool with it.  The judges think it’s too literal, and that with such a HUGE topic as heaven/hell, they could have done a lot more.  Mark admits he gave himself over to Peregrine’s vision (slam!).  China asks Peregrine why she looks so uncomfortable, and Peregrine responds that Mark didn’t give her anything to work with. Slam!! Damn!

crit m and p

China asks the other artists if they have anything to add to the crit.  Miles has been fidgeting the whole time, and when given the opportunity, he immediately chimes in to say, “Yeah, I DO have something to say.  My problem with your work is that you play it safe.  Peregrine took materials and came to your side, and you just…” and stands there like a lump, imitating Mark.  Mark just blinks and takes it.   None of the other artists speak up.

Miles and Jaclyn are next.  Yadda yadda, male/female, control issues, yadda yadda.  The judges are very interested in what Jaclyn’s piece is saying.  What is it?  What does it mean?  Bill calls Jaclyn out for maybe having some “issues” that she’s sorting through.  Jaclyn laughs.  But overall, Bill likes the piece.  It’s not too literal for him!  Miles explains a little further what his piece is and means.  I think I start to get a better idea of it when he explains it AND they show a close-up of the walls.  See, we’re looking at the back of one wall and its framing, with a punch from the backside coming towards us, and then we’re looking at a black, angry wall with a punch in a place that corresponds to the other punch, going forward towards the back.  So, we’re seeing both sides of the wall and the punch.  But, I ask, what does Jaclyn jerkin’ have to do with that??

crit m and j

Ryan McGinness sounds like he’s trying to provide a thoughtful crit of the piece by pointing out its honesty.  He asks Miles if he punches walls.  Yes, Miles punches walls.  He asks Jaclyn if she masturbates standing up.  Long pause….and yes, she has done so before.  Ah, Ryan, you just wanted to know how Jackie played with the little man in the boat!  Next he says, “Because they’re so big and because there are two of them,” and I get caught off guard, thinking he’s talking about Jaclyn’s breasts.  No no, Panda, he’s talking about the walls.  HA!   Ryan wins me over a little bit, though, when he says that the connection between the two pieces is a superficial use of similar materials, and that the piece otherwise doesn’t seem to collaborate well at all.

Finally, onto Nicole and Abdi.  This is going to hurt.  We’ve all heard the explanations a thousand times before, and nothing new surfaces during the crit.  Ryan McG starts off by saying the order piece, Nicole’s, kinda makes sense but comes across as rinky-dink.  (It does.)  Ryan also thinks that Abdi’s painting looks ordered more than chaotic. (Then speak up, Abdi, and explain how you and Nicole discussed how much alike order and chaos are!)  China doesn’t see how the two pieces go together.  And hey, Jerry hates Abdi’s piece! Wait, what?!  I know, it’s shocking.   He tells Abdi that he’s starting to distrust his vision entirely.  Abdi, sweet little guy, asks the judges what it is they’d like to be seeing in the work.  Ryan saves Jerry the trouble of having to scream about it. “The fact that you’re even asking that is the wrong approach.  You need to ask yourself.”  Abdi, Abdi…come here, you need a hug.  Or maybe I do.

crit a and n

The judges get together to gang up on the artists, and it’s all the same stuff you’ve already heard or expect to hear.  Abdi’s was ordered instead of chaotic, Nicole’s was like a crappy kid’s toy, Mark’s was too literal and Peregrine’s was too Bedazzled.  The judges seem to like Miles and Jaclyn’s well enough, though they offer some crit about it, too. Blah blah blah.  Jerry gives us a fun sound byte at the end, though.  “I’ve got three people in my mind who are in trouble. <dun dun dunh>  DEEP trouble.”  China nods.

Bring ‘em back in.  Who wins?  Jaclyn and Miles!

body languageWill ya look at that body language, huh?

Who’s going home?  Well, let’s listen to this stupid scripted one-liner parade, shall we?  (Why can’t these art experts just speak extemporaneously about the works?  Tom C. does it every week on Top Chef (or he’s just a better actor, delivering his lines).  Tom C. tells the chefs exactly where they failed in no uncertain terms, and he doesn’t need gimmicks to get his crit across.  Yes, food and art are different, but I feel like my intelligence is insulted with the formal scripting of the Work of Art “go home” lines.)

Jerry gets to bash Abdi (or “Obdi”, to hear Jerry say it) and Nicole for their piece not being cohesive, and he lays the blame on Abdi for his crappy ordered cave bullshit.  Bill delivers the smackdown to Mark and Peregrine.  Peregrine is looking at her feet and is about to cry.  In fact, after Bill declares that the fault lies with Mark, Peregrine’s face crumples.  Cut to China, who looks away sadly.  Is SHE trying not to cry?  Really?  She gets her shit together enough to tearily tell Mark and Abdi that one of them is going home.  And it is Mark.  China IS outright crying now.  (Did she love Mark or something, or is she just totally cueing off of Peregrine?  Are they cycling together?)

uh oh

Mark’s just like, “Yep, okay, got it, thanks.”  He thanks them for the opportunity and is glad to have met them.  He heads back to Miles and Jaclyn and says his goodbyes.  He admits that the judges kept telling him the same thing over and over again, and he didn’t listen.  So, really, he sounds like he’s at peace with going home.   (For what it’s worth, I saw a photo elsewhere of what his original “heaven” idea was, and it was beautiful.  Peregrine fucked him.)

marks angelIt’s still too literal and obvious, but it’s a helluva lot better than the stomach scar angle!

Do you agree with who went home this week?  Did you like any of the art?  What’d ya think, huh?  Tell me!!!

Oh, and next week is the last challenge before the finale.  The artists head out of town (my guess it that it’s to Falling Water in PA—just a guess!). Five of them leave on the trip, and three will go to the finale.  I’m bad at math, but I think that means a double elimination next week.  Miles wants to play with dangerous chemicals (mustard gas), Peregrine asks for a condom, Jaclyn’s acting petulant when Simon’s checking in with her, and Abdi’s having trouble finishing a piece on time.  Nothing new, but come back anyway, won’t you?

About

Time for an update! I used to be a tall, athletic editor who lived on the East coast. Oh, I still am, only now I've gained back all the weight I lost, which changes my life-tone quite a bit. Now that I'm married, I have a lot less time to watch Bravo and Food network. We usually end up watching Big Bang Theory reruns ("all of my friends, all of my friends, all of my friends") or Wipeout. Or WWE Raw. Wow. How life has changed!  Join me as we chat about my breast friend Patti Stanger and her love minions. Or maybe we'll talk about art during Work of Art. Whatever we're watching, don't be shy--tell me what you think!

30 Comments

  1. 1
    emma
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 7:02 am

    Much like Eric and Ryan before him, I felt like this was mrk’s time and yet there were so many other weeks where I would have been waaaay more satisfied by his getting kicked off. At thus point if Abdi doesn’t win (and he won’t) I’ll be pretty confused in my preconceived notions if what is good art… I’m petty sick of jaclyn’s supid self obsession and Miles’ complete bullshit (not to meniin recycling of his ideas ver and over again). Peregine’s work is cool but damn girl doesn’t seem to be freaked about how many times she’s dodged a bullet that sent her partner/s home. Ugh. I hate this season’s top chefs and I the rest of these art school pussies really leave me no one to root for anywhere. Thank goodness jersey shore is back and bad girls club is right around the corner!

  2. 2
    emma
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 7:04 am

    sorry for typos due to mobile device and also great recap sexypanda! what’s next on your plate once work of art is over?

  3. 3
    SexyPanda
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 9:07 am

    I have to catch up with the Jersey Shore nerds with OnDemand (oh, I hope it’s there!). I was out on Thursday and totally missed it. It’s good?

    Next up for me is, and I laugh, “Money Hungry” on VH1. I think I’ll have more of an opportunity to be totally obnoxious, which I might do a little too well! :)

    Thanks for readin’! Come back for the discussion that’s sure to come!

  4. 4
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 10:42 am

    I won’t defend anything Miles was shown saying in the episode because even me, the biggest Miles defender, was a little put off by his talking head comments, but I will note that both Nicole and a random reality show editor chimed in to basically say the editors did a hatchet job on him this week. Nicole said that he and Jaclyn were the #1 victims of editing this week and the editor pointed out how and where his comments were “frankenbited.”

    And Jaclyn, true to her nature, was offended that people thought she needed to be manipulated or coerced into taking her clothes off. She said that she accepts that the agenda is to make Miles look like “a sociopath/douchebag” but resents that they impugned her intelligence to do so. I think that’s my favorite defense of someone.

    So…I still think his response to Mark’s scar was childish and obnoxious, and think the “underhanded genius” comment was in response to convincing Ryan not to use all of the tar, but I don’t think he manipulated Jaclyn or gloated about it. Not very likable, but not for the reasons the show wanted us to think.

    And according to Nicole, her face was all splotchy because she had an allergic reaction due to the lovely combination of the professional make up used by production and the toxic chemicals that have been floating around the studio.

    And I can’t wait to read your Money Hungry recaps, SP.

  5. 5
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 11:24 am

    This episode was emotional for me. I didn’t cry like China or Peregrine, but I wasn’t a passive viewer. Peregrine’s treatment towards mark angered me. I’ve lost respect for her. While Mark’s talking head comments on past episodes made him a little unlikeable, I applaud Bravo for giving him a sendoff with dignity. Plus, I felt so bad that Miles and Peregrine were so condescending and standoffish. Can they only be cordial with people if they like their work?

    My heart broke for Abdi. From the promos of China crying, I just knew it was him that was going. When she called his name, I screamed, “No!” A little hyperbolic, maybe, but I just like the kid. He’s the son I wanna have one day..and while I think he needs a bit more life experience to add depth to his art, his talent is undeniable. I think he and Mark would be successful commerically, getting told what to create, and getting paid well for it.

    I don’t know if Mark was offended by Pergrine’s work, but I was offended for him. It was as if she was saying that to live in his body was the epitome of hell. She threw cigarette butts at the canvas and alluded to an all around unhealthy lifestyle. Like, he created his own hell with gluttony.
    And while Mark’s true vision of Heaven is much better than what sent him home, who would’ve wanted to see Peregrine’s ass from that angle?

  6. 6
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 11:40 am

    Regarding Jaclyn and Miles..I was so angry by their win. I did find their work better than the others but that didn’t make it good. But with the constant appraisal of Miles’ ‘playing with wood’ creations and Jaclyn’s nudity being the best things that’s happened to art since Titian is, well…I don’t know.
    I’m starting to feel like I’m in one of those art satires. Like the Emporers New Clothes..except instead of the Emporer being naked, Jaclyn is. And the judges are members of her court, gathering around to tell her great she looks. But the joke isn’t on her because Jaclyn knows she’s naked…the joke is on the court because they don’t know that she’s cognizant of how far this will take her. (Very far.) Miles, is in on the joke. Which is why the first thing he did was suggest she get naked. Jerry, called Miles’ suggestion creepy on his blog. I call it a bit o’genius, because Miles’ wood and Jaclyn’s tits are automatic winners and the Peanut gallery had no idea they were being played. Could it be because the panel is made up mostly of middle-aged men, that exposed tits and a partially concealed vag screams ‘talent!’, yet the word literal is never once uttered?

  7. 7
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 11:57 am

    I’ll admit I’m not the most sympathetic person to Mark, but at some point didn’t he contribute to his own ostracization? He was dismissive of all three women left in the competition when there were more artists and we know he never liked Miles, so…just because all his friends are gone they should be nicer to him? If Nicole, Abdi, Jaclyn and Peregrine had been booted leaving Miles with Mark, Erik, Ryan and Judith I’d feel the same way about Miles situation. Nice that Abdi was willing to welcome Mark, but Mark was also never a dick to Abdi. To his credit, Mark seemed to grasp the cause and effect.

    As for Jaclyn and Miles winning. If they’re work was better than the others, they deserved the win. They were still criticized by McGinnis for not really tying both pieces together and that the connection was superficial at best, but looking at it from the Bravo angle, you can see that the tar wall had more of a reflective surface providing Jaclyn with the mirror effect she wanted from the literal mirror, so they accomplished what they’d agreed upon. Sometimes a good piece wins and sometimes the least bad one does. I don’t think it was a case of “the emperor’s new clothes” because they didn’t lavish praise on an undeserving piece. They praised the winning piece and most criticism of it was removed because it didn’t further the story. By the way, here’s a link to the Art Fag City post explaining how Miles was Sherroded:

    http://www.artfagcity.com/2010/07/29/work-of-art-opposites-attract-a-litany-of-common-art-world-myths/comment-page-1/#comment-287620

    And I think SP perfectly nailed why no one complained about Jaclyn’s painting being literal: They were using the word incorrectly. Of course a painting of a woman to represent “female” is the very definition of literal, but the usage of the painting in the whole installation was less “obvious,” which is what bothered them about Mark’s piece. But why use English correctly when you can run with the wrong word like a dog with a bone and muddle the entire situation?

    Finally, I can’t explain why Kyra Sedgwick was there, but Cynthia Rowley’s married to Hairy Bill so he probably finally was able to force her to show up and be a “celebrity” guest.

  8. 8
    SexyPanda
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    I’m not gonna get in anyone’s way here, because I don’t think you’re done and I love what y’all are saying!

    But…I have to laugh because a good friend of mine and I were talking about some show she saw on Style, and she said, “Yeah, this lady from this show is married to the guy on YOUR show!” and she didn’t know who it was. I’d forgotten about it ’til now. My life comes full circle. Love it!

  9. 9
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    In reference to Jaclyn/Miles’ win, I didn’t say that they didn’t deserve it. I acknowledged the the work was the lesser of three evils while also saying that it still wasn’t good. The very concept of the show is that a winner and loser must be picked every time. This doesn’t mean that every episode showcases brilliant work. (I’m looking at you, Neumonon)

    In regards to the Emperor’s New Art, I wasn’t being specific to this challenge. Jaclyn’s nudity and Miles wood pieces have been recreated in several challenges, not just this one. And yes, lavish praise has been given for mediocre work, IMO..epscially the quickpics shots of Jaclyn undressing in a bathroom, then Sharpie-d in the gallery. The idea of viewer interaction was a good one (thanks Erik!), but was her art genius? Had she done it with her clothes on, or if she had size 32AA breasts, would the impact have been the same? What about if Abdi had done it, fully dressed? Would Jerry have loved it so?

    If we choose to believe that Jaclyn’s art is highly praised because of sheer talent, and not partly due to the fact that she is baring very large breasts to a room full of men, er, judges, then we have also become members of the ‘court’. Making the joke on us, as well.

  10. 10
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    The whole correlation to the emperor’s new clothes is completely off base, though. For it to be apt, it would have to be empty-headed group think whereby something completely lacking in any artistic merit was praised to the heavens. But that’s not what’s happening here.

    Miles’ and Jaclyn’s work, separate from them personally, has been consistent and they’ve been rewarded, except when they aren’t. Jaclyn’s been in the bottom group a couple of times, including one time when she used a nudie painting of herself, and Miles has had to defend himself even when he’s in the top group, like he did with the Audi challenge. But why consider all the facts when only the ones that support a theory work better.

    Artists often work in repeating themes, ideas, materials so I don’t see anything wrong with Miles and Jaclyn going to the same well on a regular basis. It’s been successful, it’s what they know, it’s how they express themselves. Every artist left has basically been making the exact same thing every week. Only Jaclyn and Miles have been successful while not being likable.

    I know I’m supposed to hate both of them because editing tells me so, and I know they’re not nearly that talented because Miles looks like Brad Pitt’s trippy little cousin instead of Paul Giammati’s and Jaclyn has implants. But separate from their looks and allegedly off putting personalities, they’ve also been the two contestants who’ve either been the most secure in their vision (Miles) or the one most successful at incorporating ideas to improve their vision (Jaclyn).

    It can’t be that, though, so it must be that the judges are snowed.

    As for how the judges would have responded if someone older, heavier, or less busty painted nudie shots of themselves? I don’t know. It’s a straw man argument. But we do have an idea of how someone more likable than Miles would fare by constructing pieces. Nicole’s been rewarded for her structural pieces by using a lot of Miles’ techniques. She also goes to the same well all the time, too. Why isn’t it more appalling and “emperor new clothing” when she gets rewarded? Because she does it while being likable and unweird?

  11. 11
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Nicole, Nicole, Nicole. Frankly, the only challenge she won, that I can recall, was the public art challenge which I’ve already stated was crappy and won by default.
    Nicole to me is part of the art satire. I just didn’t specify her in any of the above challenges. Nicole for me is an archetype of art school, the neo-hippie who’s read lots of Nietzche and Kafka, who is philosophical and conceptual but who’s work sounds better than it actually looks. Her aesthetic is a little crude for me..no delicacy, and it usually looks unfinished. Could also be the way it’s photographed because Bravo didn’t show us each layer of her Child’s play project, nor a detailed shot of her TV/concrete piece.

    Jaclyn has been in the bottom, mostly when she was dressed, but the time she did the nudie painting, she was chastised because it had nothing to do with the book. Plus, her back was turned, therefore…useless. lol! I do remember them wanting to know why she didn’t just use a photograph of herself instead of impressionistic watercolor…those judges wanted to see detail!

    I know you, Vallegirl, pride yourself on being the biggest Miles defender, but I was hoping that you still would be able to extract some humor from my words.
    Plus, the Emperor’s New Art comment was mostly for Jaclyn, not Miles. He has no breasts. And while Jaclyn has big boobs, I think I’ve made it clear, my girl crush is on quirky Nicole, even though she spouts esoteric bullshit..the kind the judges think they should know, but since they don’t, they just nod along..afraid to ask for clarification. Then when noone’s looking, Jerry whips out his smartphone to text KGB.

    I don’t comment on Miles’ personality because frankly, I could care less how he relates to the others. Jaclyn isn’t unlikeable to me..she seems really nice, if a little dead-eyed. The only person I can say I do not like now, is Peregrine because of how she acted last challenge in regards to Mark. He did what she asked and she still threw him under the bus..and cried in her pixiemousy way which has probably garnered her plenty of sympathy in the past.

    As far as the Emperor reference..you make a point that some may see it as the ‘court’ being a bunch of vapid groupthinkers. But, this isn’t how I meant it. I specified how this analogy was different. In the story, the joke was on the Emperor, played by his court. In the analogy, the joke is on the judges.
    People can pull the wool over our eyes and smart people aren’t immune.
    In the recap, SexyPanda mentioned how when Miles arse-kissed Ryan McGinnes, Jerry Saltz looked away. In Jerry’s blog, he mentioned that was the first time for him when the wool was lifted and he began to see Miles for what he really is, a manipulator. And that’s all my analogy is about, when people can knowingly manipulate others into ‘drinking the kool-aid.’ Not the most perfect analogy, but I figured I’d slip by with a Hans Christian Anderson reference. Lesson learned. I should’ve gone with Aesop.

  12. 12
    zbird
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    Advantage: Vallegirl.

    Mostly because sarcasatire wrote the same Emporer’s New Clothes comments on at least two other blogs and was left unchallenged on his/her assertions.

    Keep it up, you two! Highly entertaining.

    Great recap, SP!

  13. 13
    zbird
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    BTW: That comment sounded snarkier than intended. Tone does not always convey properly. I am genuinely enjoying the back-and-forth between y’all :)

  14. 14
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 1, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    zbird.. Yes, my point of view of a particular episode does not change per blog post. That would be insincere. It, however, isn’t necessarily written verbatim..but the general ideas are the same.
    I am flaterred, however, that you have tracked my movements. :)

  15. 15
    Casey
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 7:06 am

    “mastur-painting” LOL genius. Love the recap SP!!!

    I don’t take art as seriously as everyone else so I have nothing insightful to contribute to the ongoing conversation, but this week’s artwork was pretty lame. I “got it” but none of it knocked my socks off.

  16. 16
    PottyMouth PottyMouth
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Great recap, SexyPanda. I felt bad for Abdi, and honestly, I thought he’d be the one to go home this week considering HE didn’t even know what the hell he was doing or trying to do.

    Peregrine really pissed me off this episode which is really disappointing after last week. But she was so unnecessarily bitchy to Mark. And in the end, despite her bitchiness and protestation of his ideas, I didn’t see her adding much to this challenge. So instead of a woman, you’ve got naked torso Mark. And?

    I think it would have been much more interesting if Miles and Jaclyn had combined their pieces. What if Miles had built his wall, Jaclyn painted her matur-piece on it, and then Miles punch the hole through that?

    Can’t wait to see who ends up in the finale with Jaclyn and Miles. Thanks for another week of laughs!

    SWAK, PottyMouth

  17. 17
    SexyPanda
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    What if…Miles had depicted the male loss of control by masturbating and then Jaclyn had done her piece as is? Yeah, that would have worked for me. Nope, I’m not a creep at all.

  18. 18
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    Well, I think, at the very least, McGinnis would have seen the connection more clearly.

  19. 19
    james
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    wait?? What?! Hairy Bill is NOT gay? I have had a mild crush on him and his beard and his sort of cro magnon forehead this whole season…..but I totes thought he was gay. hm.

  20. 20
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 2:03 am

    In other news, a 7 year old from England just sold 33 works in just 27 mins…for $200,000. Pewople came from far and wide, including Jersey and Virginia, to view and buy his art. What say you, Gasmi? Talent..or hype?
    http://gawker.com/5603040/would-you-spend-200000-on-this-seven+year+olds-paintings

    But before you answer, here is the trailer for a documentary of a 4 year old, world renowned abstract artist. She can’t read or write..but art, the girl knows art.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j46V9wclBaw&feature=player_embedded
    You can’t call her an art school pussy because she’s never been to school. So there! :p

  21. 21
    sayhuh
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 2:30 am

    Me, I give the advantage to Sarcasatire. I also thought it was ridiculous how the judges (Saltz, I believe – SAAAAALLLLLTTTTZZZZ!!!!) said that Jaclyn’s Pride and Prejudice cover would have been better if she had used a photo of herself instead of a painting (WHA??????????) – plus we get longer comments here at the Gasm! No, don’t be a Jaclyn-like creep, Sarcasatire. I am not obsessed with you, don’t bother negating my gaze and all that. I also posted elsewhere and saw your comments. I even got a thanks from Mark about my righteous rage and depression about how this show is going. It’s really wearing me down! I am thinking the whole concept should change. It should be more like So You Think You Can Dance or American Idol, where you have judges, but then the public at large should vote on their favorite. If done correctly, it would be as much about how good the critics are as about how good the art is. Could they convince us, the great unwashed, that an esoteric, highly-conceptualized but visually huh? piece is better than an easily digestible, pretty picture? I think it would be interesting. It might be horribly depressing, too even more so than now, (Thomas Kinkade would win!), but I think it would be worth a try: Work of Art – the Next Great Accessible Art Critic.

    This episode hit me extra hard, because I will see my family soon for the first time in two years, and shopping for clothes and trying them on under those unforgiving fluorescent lights in fitting rooms has made me hate my body more than a bit and feel very insecure about how they will find me. So I read the narrative of this episode a little differently from a lot of other people, no doubt. Although from the recap, SexyPanda (smart panda!) also saw a lot of this: Unpopular fat guy asks a girl to get naked for him; she refuses (which was her right, no doubt); she asks him to get naked for her, which he is uncomfortable with, but she tells him it’s just to make a drawing of it; instead she uses the actual picture blown up to a very large size; she piles filth and garbage on the image of his body and presents it as hell (wink wink nudge nudge); when the judges hate it, she blames him for it; oh, wait, here comes knight-in-shining-armor skinny pretty Miles to pile on and ridicule him and save the pretty princess’ honor, after acting suitably disgusted and horrified at being subjected to scar; and, finally, in the time-honored Precious “yes, she has AIDS and is going to die, but hey, she learned to read, told her mother to go screw herself and got her kids back SO THERE!” downer-yet-you-better-feel-good-about-it-or-else ending, fat guy gets tossed out but is allowed to retain a shred of his dignity on his exit as a beautiful girl weeps for him. If Miles could sleep by his assholes and be rewarded for that piece of performance art, they should just give the whole win to Peregrine right now for this one. How beautifully she played everyone.

    I admit at first I thought Mark had completely obliterated the image of his body from his picture of heaven, which I thought would have made a very interesting contrast but I see I was wrong. It must have been because right now obliterating the picture of my body would be heaven for me, so I guess I was reading too much into it.

    And I hated Jaclyn’s painting. Wow, a female nude to represent “female”. Oh, wait, she’s masturbating. How daring. Yawn. Because it’s all part of this concept, you see, in which “male” is violent and loses control. How daring. Yawn. Again, is it just me? This show is really making me hate “art” that is all about the concept and doesn’t give me much to look at. But look at Jerry Saltz spinning those walls until they’re made of pure gold! When McGiness said the two pieces didn’t have that much to do with each other, Jerry was ready with a lot of words to the effect of “no no NO, you’re wrong!” Spin spin spin. I’m dizzy. And sad. And depressed. This is not how I like feeling about art. Good thing I’ll be two stone throws away from the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía museums in a few days.

    Well, I am going on vacation and won’t be seeing the rest of this craptastic show for a few weeks. I am torn between avoiding all spoilers or keeping up thanks to SP’s invaluable insight, if I get the chance. So forgive me for an extra-extra long comment (even for me) since I may not be around for the next few go-rounds… But I’ll be reading you all sooner or later, so keep up the great commenting!

  22. 22
    JimmyT
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:47 am

    Miles/Jaclyn may have been better than the others but I didn’t think they were that good. I wish the judges would do like Tom C. at Top Chef has done and not have a winner at all. Instead, they just spew a bunch of BS to justify the good and bad choice for the week.

    The judges are starting to remind me of an old Murphy Brown episode where Elden, the house painter/artists gets a gallery show. All the judges, walk into the gallery space and start raving about how daring it was that all the wall were bare and painted white with only a crack on the wall, near a No Smoking sign signifying the crumbling illusion of conformity in society…the joke, of course was, that Elden had painted a mural on the ceiling that no one had seen.

    In terms of the loss, I hate to say it (because I like him better than Mark), but Abdi’s piece was worse. He didn’t even have any idea of what he was doing and I think that ultimately the decision was more about the judges feeling that Abdi had better potential/was less commercial than Mark overall than about the quality of the work in this challenge.

    As for Miles, he may not have been as manipulative with Jaclyn as shown on the show, but I do feel that he is constantly doing little things to give himself and edge while undermining the others. The fact that Jaclyn went for another nude reinforced the fact that she is pretty much a one trick pony while distracting from the fact that he is also starting to appear redundant. His praising of Abdi’s color choice was also odd, he could have tried to give him more constructive ideas at a time when he really needed them rather than lead him to think that he was doing well. Ditto his snide comments about other artists during the crit and his convincing Ryan to not use much of the tar so that he could have it later. I think that his hostility towards Mark was largely because he noticed this more than the others.

  23. 23
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    No matter how bad any of the art was this week, it never sunk to the level of deviled eggs.

  24. 24
    juddfan
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm

    Well, I’m late to the party, and whew . . . what a slew of comments this week! Potty, I loved your idea of him punching her portrait on the wall, takes the rage to new levels, but yeah, a wall . . . hm. Must agree with SP that Jackie at least did a decent painting, even if it was a tad drab.

    I haven’t been a fan of Mark’s, but have to agree with SP once again in her descriptions of Perigrino’s distaste and manipulation. I liked his real vision better, a nude of each of them would have been fairer. She failed to do a painting, and basically vomited glitter–that was not hell, Gott In Himmel! I hated her gesturing during judging. Her piece sucked! His was pretty lousy too, but it did look like heaven way more than hers looked like hell.

    Once again, Nicole’s was as bland as toast. Plain wood . . . sigh . . . I actually thought it was fun and looked like a fun project, and I even liked the concept, but utterly lacking in color in every way. (Not that they had a lot of time to work!) As for Abdi, for whatever reason, as I read the cap, it occurred to me that he could have done two hands clutching with an explosion ripping through the fingers. I know it’s literal, and I ain’t claiming to be anything, but I could really see it in his comic style and colors. I was very depressed the whole time watching . . . sigh . . . and Once again, Jerry with the slamming his fists in his hands on every word! It’s hateful!

    I guess everyone hates Miles, and frankly, I just don’t care enough about him either way. I’d rather see Abdi’s exhibit than his, probably Perigrino’s second and Nicole’s third–just based on what I’ve seen here. Perhaps even Ryan would be up there, coz his self portrait was great, IMHO!

    sarcasatire, I saw some of your comments too. It was fun to see you elsewhere! Didn’t you say vag in one . . . HEH!!!

    As for your epic battle with Valle–I enjoyed it, and hope you two aren’t mad or anything. As I always say, I love the discourse here, agreeing or not, and you’re both my grrrls!

    Also, I am so capable of many sins of omission in my comments, and changing moods and views too–I do hate Jerry less due to his attempts to explain himself, but I smell guilt in his constant dodging of Abdi. He even denied the “girly” comment about unicorns, but came back and deferred to the poster without actually apologizing or explaining. Personally, I don’t really feel the need to comment to him, because someone almost always says what I would have. Anyhoo, my point is, I’d hate to be over scrutinized, esp my hideous grammer–I’m the dash and ellipse KING!!!

    SP-I love Happy Together, in all its sugarcoated glory, and Heavenly Ham and Wallace and Grommitt–Hahahahahhaha!!!!

  25. 25
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:19 am

    Hi Juddfan!! Better late than never! :)

    No, I’m not mad, and I hope Vallegirl isn’t either. I value her opinions and read many of her comments out in the blogosphere. (On TWoP, where I am still a lurker) Truth be told, I was a lurker on the Gasm for a while, preferring to read recaps and comments without commenting myself. (Including you, SexyPanda..you were always a friend in my head!) However, with the start of this new show, I just had to register as I also love a good discourse, especially art related. And I am having the time of my life, reading people’s viewpoints and adding my own. I hope my comments don’t read as snarky..I was going for cynically humourous…how’d I do?

    @Sayhuh..you make some good points, but I am in fact negating your gaze because you make me feel vulnerable..yet desired. Actually, I only pretend to negate it because if it were to actually disappear, I’d feel useless. So, please…keep looking! :D (Also, have fun on your vacay, and don’t worry too much about flourescent lights in dressing rooms..they’d drive anyone to starvation. I prefer stores with lenient return policies so that I may try the garments on at home, where I’m most comfortable under the glow of a 60W tungsten bulb).

    @JimmyT – Great points..I especially loved your recount of the Murphy Brown episode..it’s so on point with the whole art satire of trying to read into something that isn’t there, while trying to appear deep and conceptual. No wonder Miles only gives them a blank wall. Let them project onto it what they will.. As @Sayhuh says, “Could they convince us, the great unwashed, that an esoteric, highly-conceptualized but visually ‘huh?’ piece is better than an easily digestible, pretty picture?”

    With that said..Work Of Art drinking game! Everyone, chug your wine everytime you hear the word ‘literal’ next episode, everytime Abdi has no idea, and for every sequin on China Doll’s dress. Bottoms up!

  26. 26
    betty lane
    Posted August 5, 2010 at 2:37 am

    I have been getting drunk way too much this week. if I participated in a WoA drinking game, I would be hurting so much!

    I have nothing to contribute to this discussion other than that I thought Miles was hilarious. to me it came off as funny & I enjoyed him twisting Jaclyn around his finger. he knows how to play the reality t.v. game better than any of them do & he’s using it to his advantage. I don’t see that as him being evil, but moreso being savvy & yeah, perhaps a little ruthless, but how else are you supposed to succeed? in the art world, reality competition or not, you have to make a strong impression to last for a more than a few moments. I also thought his concept was intriguing, if not a little rote.

    everyone else were pretty sad. I want Abdi to pull himself out of this hole that he’s dug. he seems to just be spinning his wheels. and I think someone commented above about his confused mental state; I thought that would’ve been perfect for him to use as the subject matter – the chaos in his own head. too bad he couldn’t phone a friend. and Nicole’s observations were obviously not clicking with him. I understood everything she said, but poor Abdi is a little lower on the art-minded notch than her, unfortunately.

    oh & I agree that Miles & Jaclyn are using the same concepts because they’re playing out a theme. that’s what I do with my art, too. I have a series of burlesque sideshow act girls, I have a series of dancers, I’m working on a new series right now on my endometriosis. it is very common for artists to do this, so when people say that Miles is “cheating” (good ol’ Mark specifically) because he’s using the same material really bothers me. just because he doesn’t have his own vision doesn’t give him the right to begrudge that Miles (or Jaclyn) has one.

    haha, well, I guess I did write a lot. oh & my gallery is http://mobiusant.deviantart.com, since someone in last week’s comments asked for a link. :) I am totally open to your critiques! :D come on, somebody be my Jerry Saltz.

  27. 27
    SexyPanda
    Posted August 6, 2010 at 9:51 am

    I love your stuff, BL! There’s a Haight-Ashbury vibe to some of the pieces. I only glanced so far, but I’ll take a closer look soon. Pwomise.

    Next week is the finale–I’ll definitely play along with some kind of drinking game since all my usual responsibilities are starting to wane. (Crazy week, this one!) I think the rules set forth so far will leave me drunk in the first 10 minutes, so maybe we need to revise…

    Latest recap will be up this weekend. I have another triathlon to do (back to back, baby, that’s how I roll), and there’s more travel and prep involved with this one, so it might take me a little longer than usual. It sucks, too, because I really WANT to write this week’s recap, like, NOW. But the nine-to-five is calling…

    Thanks, as always, for all your thoughts and reactions and discussions!

  28. 28
    betty lane
    Posted August 6, 2010 at 11:50 am

    thank you, sexy panda! don’t feel pressured to look at all of it, it’s not all amazeballs, trust me! heh. I am my own worst critic though so don’t listen to me. I know all too well how Abdi feels about his art. it’s hard to really like yourself as an artist when there are so many people out there that do incredible work. meh.

    good luck with the triathlon! I can’t wait to see what you’re gonna write about last week’s episode – but I missed the show itself & damn bravo refuses to put it on their website! :( even hulu only has clips of it. boo & hiss. and Bravo is too busy playing eternal reruns of RHONJ & Top Chef to bother with WoA reruns, which really sticks in my craw! I want to see them all back-to-back!

  29. 29
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted August 6, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Since next week is the finale Bravo does have a marathon scheduled for this weekend. I think it starts @ 8:00 am, though, so plan ahead.

    And good luck with the triathlon, SP.

  30. 30
    sarcasatire sarcasatire
    Posted August 6, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    Good Luck on your triathalon, SP!!

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