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?

I wasn't talking turns

I'm talking art

Don't you think he's original?

Well, yes

You're talking crap

But is it really new?

Well, no...

His own collaborator—!

It's more than novelty

Well, yes...

It's just impersonal, but—

It's all promotion, but—

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!

Here's George now!

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. 

Oh...

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—

(spoken)

Yes. 

(sung)

Financing it is not

A vision's just a vision

If it's only in your head

If no one gets to see it

It's as good as dead

It has to come to light!

(spoken)

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 the 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 the vision's no solution

Everything depends on execution

The art of making art

Is putting it together

Bit by bit

Oh, we haven't met. Charles Redmond, County Museum of Texas. I 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 fine 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 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've touted your work from the beginning, you know that. 

They like to give advice, George

You were really onto 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're capable of far more. 

"Be new," George

They tell you till they're blue, George

Not that you couldn't succeed by doing Chromolume after Chromolume—but there are new discoveries to be made, 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 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

They're just his personal response

To what?

The painting! 

Till you have a balanced composition

Bullshit. Anyway, the painting's overrated—

It's only new, though, for now

Overrated? It's a masterpiece!

Everything depends on preparation

Nouveau

A masterpiece? Historically important, maybe—

And yesterday's forgotten

Oh, now you're judging Seurat, are you? 

Even if you do have the suspicion

All it is is pleasant, just like George's work

It's just your jealousy of George's work

You can't divide art today

And you can't tell good from rotten and—

No nuance, no resonance, no relevance—

There's nuance, and there's resonance, there's relevance—

That it's taking all your concentration

I'm not surprised

Most art today

Today it's all a matter of promotion

There's not much point in arguing

Go with it

No point in arguing

Is a matter of promotion, but then—

The art of making art

Besides it's all promotion, but then—

You say it's all promotion, but then—

What will they think of next?

That is the state of the art

Is putting it together

And art isn't easy...

Bit by bit

Link by link

Drink by drink

Mink by mink

And that

Is the state of the—

Art!