Okay, so I’ve been sneaking peaks at the new exhibit that they were putting up at Herron, then I later find out that it’s the work of Indiana-native John “Cougar” Mellencamp. Once they finished setting up the exhibit, they put brown paper over the glass doors so no more peeking until the official opening.
I have a friend or two who work in the gallery and they comment on how much of a joke it all is. They comment that the paintings are trying way too obviously to say something, with song lyrics plastered all over it. Comments have also stated that if we weren’t in Indiana few people would care what Mellencamp was doing.
I would have to agree that from the pieces I saw, they weren’t that visually pleasing. Now, I understand that some subject matter requires certain styles that are more “ugly.” And with themes that deal with death and war, attempting to show the ugliness of it, may require ugliness in the piece. I mean, I never cared for the work of Rauschenberg, which I think is visually ugly, but many love him.
As a Herron student, I think there’s a bit of frustration in that for the most part the school is ignored by the public. There have been many great artists come through the doors. But, suddenly at the arrival of John Mellencamp, Peterson’s “Big Red Arrow” marks the building as a place of artistic happening.
However, the private opening is something like $500 a head, which I’m sure will bring in lots of money for the school.