Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together

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 art 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 telling me--

When something new pops up every day

You're telling me--

It's only new, though, 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?)

Don't you think he's original? (I wasn't talking turns)

Well, yes (I'm talking art)

You're talking crap (But is it really new?)

Well, no

It's more than novelty (His own collaborator!)

Well, yes

It's just impersonal, but-- (It's all promotion, but then--)

That is the state of the art

Isn't it? Well

Art isn't easy--

Even when you've amassed it--

Fighting for prizes--

No one can be an oracle

Art isn't easy

Suddenly, you're past 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

All right, 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, I want you to meet one of our board members

This is Harriet Pawling

What a pleasure

And this is my friend, Billy Webster

How do you do

Well, I'll just leave you three to chat

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

This is the third piece of yours I've seen

They are getting so large!

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

A vision's just a vision

If it's only in your heed

If no one gets to see it

It's as good as dead

It has to come to light!

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

How clever

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!

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 without 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

Wanted you to know we're in the process of giving out some sizable

Commissions--

Link by link

Making the connections

I hope you don't mind my bringing up business during a social occasion

Drink by drink

Fixing and perfecting the design

Adding just a dab of politician

Always knowing where to draw the line

Lining up the funds but in addition

Lining up a prominent commission

Otherwise your perfect composition

Isn't going to 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 going to 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--

And then when you have to collaborate!

Art isn't easy

Any way you look at it

George, hello. Lee Randolph. I handle the public relations for the museum

Dot by dot

Building up the image

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

Shot by shot

Keeping at a distance doesn't pay

Still, if you remember your objective

Not give 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

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

If you feel a sense of coalition

Then you never really stand alone

If you want your work to reach fruition

What you need's a link with your tradition

And of course a prominent commission

Plus a little formal recognition

So that you can go on exhibit--

So that your work can go on exhibition

There's the man of the hour

Blair! Hello. I read your piece on Neo-Expressionism

Good for you

Well, what did you think?

George. Chromolume number 7?

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

Now don't get me wrong. You're a talented guy

But I think you are capable of far more

Be new, George (Not that you couldn't succeed by)

They tell you till they're blue, George (Doing Chromolume after Chromolume)

You're new or else you're through, George (But there are new discoveries to be made, 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 adherents

But he combines all these different trends

Mapping out the right configuration

Starting with a suitable foundation

He's an original

Was

Lining up a prominent commission--

And an exhibition in addition--

Here a little dab of politician-- (I like those images)

There a little touch of publication-- (Some)

Till you 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 (And that is the state of the art!)

Is putting it together (Art isn't easy!)

Bit by bit

Link by link

Drink by drink

Mink by mink

And that

Is the state of the

Art!