I confess, I'm not big on discovering new bands. I still refer to song compilations as "albums." Luckily, I have people in my life like my cool cousin-in-law Scott Lavinder who send me videos I might enjoy.
I love love love love love Real Estate's "It's Real." Click here to watch (if you are receiving Dog Art Today via email and can't view it).
It is such an unbridled celebration of dog love and of kitsch and nostalgia -- the figurines, the collectible plates, the super 8, the paneling, the polyester upholstery, and exposed brick.
I think a lot about kitsch when I write about dog art. This blog has been my attempt to show that dog art is serious art, but now, something is happening in the art world. Kitsch is becoming serious. Or at least it is being taken seriously.
Ben Valentine of Hyperallergic just wrote a post about dog art, or rather dogs as art, arguing that...
If you think about it, your dog is a blank canvas — primed with beautiful fur, unique contours and a stunning face, just waiting to blossom into a work of art. While you were looking at and sharing cute dog pics and LOLCats at work, some creative producers were inspired to turn their own dogs into something more, something better. I have collected prime examples of dog art to celebrate the talent and creativity that some dog owners have poured into their pets. (full article)
And speaking of William Wegman (yesterday's post), today, NYC gallerist Jen Bekman is offering Wegman's very kitschy Weimaraners sailing print,Vacationland, and the 8" x 10" size has already sold out.
Another confession: I try to avoid kitsch, defined by Merriam-Webster as something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality, here at Dog Art Today because to me smacks of laziness -- nostalgia masquerading as originality.
But Real Estate's "It's Real" is so far over-the-top, it is, as the song says, "real." And it makes me reconsider my anti-kitsch artistic world view.
P.S. It also makes me feel better to know what Tavi Gevinson is talking about on her mood board song list, where she lists Real Estate. If you haven't heard of Style Rookie Tavi Gevinson you will.
Thanks, Scott. You rock! (do people still say that?)
