Hey, Y'all:
Thanks to Brian for the reminder of levity.
For some reason, whenever I hear a discussion of what constitutes art, etc., I think of the old Monty Python routine wherein Michelangelo is having a heated discussion with the Pope regarding the first version of his painting of the Last Supper (three Christs, waiters, barnyard animals, etc., all done under the assumption of artistic license....).
If I didn't have a sense of humor, I couldn't ride an (Alex) Moulton in public......
Brian & Ritchie: first round's on me in Greensboro.
Chris Beyer Bloomfield, NJ
Brian Baylis wrote:
> Listmembers,
>
> Having spoken to Bruce privately I feel he is sincere in his opinion and
> a nice chap to boot. I don't have a problem with anyone who chooses to
> appreciate the functional aspects of a bicycle as opposed to that which
> some people call "art". Everyone has a right to their opinion, including
> Bruce. I sort of also get a slight feeling that a sense of humor and a
> little "test" was incorperated therein. Good way to find out who takes
> themselves too seriously and who doesn't sort of, maybe. Got to love a
> sense of humor. Just my .02.
>
> Brian Baylis
> Me serious? Get serious!
>
> >
> > And then there was Duke Ellington, "If it sounds good, it is good!"
> > David Feldman
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "D. Kennard" <d.kennard@home.com>
> > To: "Jerry Moos" <moos@penn.com>
> > Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 8:54 AM
> > Subject: Re: [CR]Is it art or engineering?
> >
> > > Gang,
> > >
> > > I remember a friends high school art teacher saying:
> > > "who is to say what IS art, and what is NOT?" Something like
> > > "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
> > > My neighbor walked into my garage full of collectable (to me) vintage
> > > lightweight bikes, shook his head and said "They all look the same
> > > to me; just a bunch of bikes. Why would you want more than one?".
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > > Duane "lover of art I recognize" Kennard
> > >
> > > > Then, what, pray tell, is a "true artist"? Only painters and sculpters?
> > Must
> > > > a statue be in marble the be art, or can it be cast in bronze? Steel? If
> > > > steel, must it stand in front of a bank, or can it grace the hood of a
> > > > Packard, or Deusenberg or Rolls or Bentley? What
> > > > about the headbadge of a Hetchins? Are great furniture designers not
> > artists
> > > > because one can sit on theit works? Was Frank Lloyd Wright not an
> > artist
> > > > because one can live in his works? Must an object be devoid of any
> > practical
> > > > use to be art? And if buildings and furniture
> > > > and engraved gold pocket watches are art, why not bicycles?
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > >
> > > > Jerry Moos
> > > >
> > > > brucerobbins@worldmailer.com wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> To suggest that framebuilding is an artform is to denigrate true
> > artists.
> > > >> What I admire in a frame is not its artistic qualities but its
> > engineering.
> > > >> It's similar to an old Leica or a Bristol Blenheim II: the appreciation
> > is of
> > > >> the craftsmanship. Bob Reid can speak for himself but I suspect that
> > the fine
> > > >> engineering behind the Flying Scot is what turns him on, cycling-wise.
> > > >>
> > > >> Elevating the Californian Masi makers to the level of artists merely
> > confirms
> > > >> everything the outside world (and there is one outwith California)
> > thinks of
> > > >> people who come from that state. (Email me off-list if you want to know
> > what
> > > >> that is but it's not for the squeamish).
> > > >>
> > > >> Bruce "Oops, there goes the special transatlantic relationship"
> > Robbins.
> > > >>
> > > >> Get your free email with GroupWeb Worldmailer at
> > > >> http://www.worldmailer.com. Send and receive e-mail
> > > >> from any computer with a web browser.