Putting It Together

I thought that went very well, except for the electrical screwup

What did you guys think?

Terrible

Terrific

I mean, I don't understand completely (I'm not surprised)

But he combines all these different trends (I'm not surprised)

You can't divide our today into categories neatly (Oh?)

What matters is the means not the ends (I'm not surprised)

That is the state of the art, my dear

That is the state of the art

It's not enough knowing good from rotten (You're tellin' me)

Something new pops up everyday (You're tellin' me)

It's only nouveau for now (Nouveau)

But yesterday's forgotten

And tomorrow is already passé (There's no surprise)

That is the state of the art, my friend

That is the state of the art

He's an original (Was)

I like the images (Some)

Come on, you had your moment, now it's George's turn

It's George's turn? I wasn't talking turns, I'm talking work, but is it really new?

Don't you think he's original, oh yes, you're talking crap, well no

His own collaborator, it's all promotion, but then

It's for the novelty, well yes it's just in person, oh, but

That is the state of the art, isn't it?

Well

Art isn't easy, even when you've amassed it

Inviting for prizes, no one can be an oracle

Art isn't easy, suddenly, you're passed it

All compromises, and then when it's allegorical

Art isn't easy, art isn't easy, art isn't easy

Any way you look at it

Alright, George

As long as it's your night, George

You know what's in the room, George

Another Chromolume, George

It's time to get to work

George, look at all these lovely people in front of our painting

George, come say hello to one of our board members

This is Harriet Pauling

What a pleasure

And this is my friend, Billy Webster

What heading does your work fall under

Most people think of it as sculpture

So unconventional for sculpture

Oh, hahahaha

Say cheese, George

And put them at their ease, George

You're up on the trapeze, George

Machines don't grow on trees, George

Start putting it together

I bet your great-grandfather would be very proud

Yes, he woulda loved this evening

George and I are goin' back to France next month

To visit the island where the paintin' was made

And George is gonna bring the loamachrome

Oh, uh, Chromolume

Yes

Art isn't easy, even when you're hot

Are these inventions of yours one of a kind?

Advancing art is easy, yes

Financing it is not

They take a year to make

A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head

The minute he finishes one, he starts raisin' money for the next

If no one gets to see it, it's as good as dead

Work, work, work

It has to come to light

I put the names of my contributors on the side of each machine

Some very impressive people

Well, my family has a foundation

And we're always looking for new projects

Bit by bit, putting it together

Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art

Every moment makes a contribution

Every little detail plays a part

Having just a vision's no solution

Everything depends on execution

Putting it together, that's what counts

Actually, the board of the foundation is meeting next week

Ounce by ounce, putting it together

(You'll come to lunch)

Small amounts, adding up to make a work of art

First of all, you need a good foundation

Otherwise, it's risky from the start

Takes a little cocktail conversation

But with all the proper preparation

Having just a vision's no solution

Everything depends on execution

The art of making art, is putting it together

Bit by bit

We haven't met

Charles Redmond, County Museum of Texas

Nice to meet you

I don't mean to bring up business during a social occasion

But I wanted you to know

We're in the process of giving out some very sizable commissions

Link by link, making the connections

Drink by drink, fixing and perfecting the design

Adding just a dab of politician, always knowing where to draw the line

Lining up a prominent commission

Otherwise your perfect composition

Isn't gonna get much exhibition

Art isn't easy

Every minor detail is a major decision

Have to keep things in scale, have to hold to your vision

Every time I start to feel defensive, I remember lasers are expensive

What's a little cocktail conversation

If it's gonna get you your foundation

Leading to a prominent commission

And an exhibition in addition

Art isn't easy, trying to make connections

Who understands it? Difficult to evaluate

Art isn't easy, trying to form collections

Always in transit, then when you have to collaborate

Art isn't easy, any way you look at it

George, you have to meet Mr. Randolph

Lee Randolph, I handle public relations for the museum

How do you do?

There's a lot of opportunity for some nice press here

Dot by dot, building up the image

Shot by shot, keeping at a distance doesn't pay

Still if you remember your objective

And throw all your privacy away

A little bit of hype can be effective

Long as you can keep it in perspective

After all without some recognition

No one's going to give you a commission

Which would cause a crack in the foundation

You'll have wasted all that conversation

I am really sorry, George

I spoke with Naomi in great detail

About how much electricity her synthesizer was going to use

I computed exact voltage

Dennis, it's okay

Now go get yourself a drink, Dennis, mingle

Um, George, I wave one more thing I wanted to talk to you about

I was gonna wait, uh, no, I'll wait (What?)

I'm quitting

Quitting?

I'm going back to NASA

There's just too much pressure in this line of work

Dennis, don't make any rash decisions

Just take it easy, sleep on it, we'll talk about it tomorrow

Okay, George

Art isn't easy (hey, it's the brains) even when you're smart

(Little technical screwup tonight, Dennis?) I think it's all together

Then something falls apart (I love the new machine, George)

Ahh thank you, that means a lot to me

We saw you talking to Redmond from Texas

Yeah (Did you get one of the commissions?)

We talked about it, you guys?

Her, my stuff is a little too inaccessible

Oh, I love your work, Alex, I'll put in a good word for you

He knows my work!

Well, it's all politics, Alex, maybe if you just lighten up a little

Texas would be fun

Art isn't easy

Overnight, you're a trend, you're the right combination

Then the trend's at an end, you're suddenly last year's sensation

So you should support the competition

Try to set aside your own ambition

Even while you jockey for position

If you feel a sense of coalition, then you'll never really stand alone

If you want, you work to reach fruition

What you need to link wth your tradition

And of course, a prominent commission

Plus a little formal recognition

So that you can go on exhibition

So that your work, can go on exhibition

There's the man of the hour

Blair, hello I read your piece on neoexpressionism

Uh, good for you

Now, I had no idea you might be related to 19th century France

Well, it's a cloudy ancestral line at best

I'm dying to meet your grandmother

It was fun seeing the two of you on stage with your invention

It added a certain humanity to the proceedings

Humanity?

George, Chromolume number seven?

Be nice, George

I was hoping it would be a series of three, four at the most

You have to pay a price, George

I have touted your work from the beginning, you know that

They like to give advice, George

You were really on to something with these light machines, once

Don't think about it twice, George

Now they're just becoming more and more about less and less

I disagree

Ugh, don't get me wrong, you're a talented guy

But there are new discoveries to be made, George

Be new, George

They'll tell you till they're blue, George

You're new or else you're through, George

And even if it's true, George

You do what you can do

Bit by bit, putting it together

Piece by piece, working out the vision night and day

All it takes is time and perseverance

With a little luck along the way

Putting in a personal appearance

Gathering supporters and adherence

But he combines all these different trends

Mapping out the right configuration

Starting with a suitable foundation

He's unoriginal (was)

Lining up a prominent commission

And an exhibition in addition

Hear a little dab of politician (I like those images)

Here, a little touch of complication

Need to have a balanced composition

Everything depends on preparation

Even if you do have the suspicion

That it's taking all your concentration

The art of making art, is putting it together

(Art is't easy) Bit by bit

Link by link, drink by drink

Mink by mink

And that is the state of the art