----------
>Contemporary art, however, is
>still open to a variety of interpretations--there is no "right" way to =
look
>at it, only suggestions that might help the viewer discover his/her own =
meaning.

>Modern art, on the other hand, is directly attributable to certain =
specific
>movements and individuals and should by all means have detailed =
interpretive
>materials immediatly at hand.

>Julia Moore
>Indianapolis Art Center

        One of the reasons that the conservative agenda has had a field day =
with contemporary art is the supposition thatyou have to "get it" =
because we are not going to explain it.  The museums and art centers =
have an obligation to their public to educate, to offer background on =
why the art on display was created, to inform them as to why these works =
were selected for exhibition instead of other works.  As to the belief =
that there is no "right" way to look at art, that may be true.  There =
are many ways to view art, a few are much more productive than others, =
and if we do not provide assistance, we do a disservice to the viewer, =
the artist, and our institution. =20
        Finally, it seems to me that the contemporary art of the 1990's will be
=
the modern art of the 2010's.  When does the consensus for meaning =
arrive?  When those specifics are determined will there be room for the =
rawness, the openness, and the creativity that existed.  How do we =
connect the icons of modernism reproduced in the art history texts with =
the environment of their creation.