I’m heading over to Madrid in about a week, on art business, and have been wondering how different it will be since my last visit. I’ve been concerned that there would be inescapable heartbreaking remnants of the bombings (my hotel and the gallery of good friends I’ll be visiting are both near Atocha) and that the anti-American sentiment would be even higher than during my last visit (when I marched in an anti-war rally). I’d rather not have every conversation about politics require I distance myself from this or that policy before I’m given the benefit of doubt that I’m not "the enemy." (I had a cab driver last time who I thought was going to dump me in the middle of nowhere unless I gave her the answers she wanted.) Honestly, I’ve been worried my visit would be anything but cheerful.
Until I read this, that is (via bloggy):
Spain’s defense minister on Tuesday rejected Pope John Paul II’s criticism of its Socialist government, which wants to legalize gay marriage and streamline laws on divorce and abortion, and he said some church positions go against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
"Faith is not something a government can impose. It is not something that it is up to the state, but rather to people," Defense Minister Jose Bono told Spanish radio, the news agency Efe reported.
He said some of the church’s positions, such as its opposition to homosexuality and use of condoms, go against the message of Jesus Christ, according to the report.
"Today, Christ would be more worried about the 25,000 children who die each day of hunger or in wars. I think Christ would side with those who are peaceful," Bono was quoted as saying.
While I’m not sure Bono is quite the theologian he may think he is, I love his attitude. More governments around the world should tell religious leaders that they need to appeal directly to people, not to their governent leaders, to make their case. Bullying states is repugnant and disrespectful of the separation that defines our most successful democracies.
I think I’m going to have a fine time in Madrid again.
Are you staying at the Ritz?
Or the one across the street, equally good as I recall?
And have you ever been in Buenos Aires? It’s the only city I know where people go out for dinner even later than in Madrid.
First time for me to go to Buenos Aires will be this Spring, GT. (Just in time for the cold weather there…the art world doesn’t always time things that smartly…except for Miami in December…that’s just perfect).
Actually staying in a family-run pensione. Apparently it’s where Almadovar’s “High Heels” was shot. It’s actually not as close to Atocha as my friends’ gallery (that’s literally a stones’ throw…if you throw hard), but it’s supposed to be beautiful.
I’d love to go to Spain some day. *envy*
Bono sounds eminently sensible.
Btw, if an American gay couple gets married in a foreign country, will the US recognize their married status if they come to live in the US?
if an American gay couple gets married in a foreign country, will the US recognize their married status if they come to live in the US?
I don’t think so. That’s what DOMA prevented. Even if it’s recognized in Massachusetts (and that’s not clear it would be), it wouldn’t be recognized elsewhere.
Ed,
You’ll be just fine in Madrid.
Have a great time ! How long will you be gone?
When in Spring. Buenos Aires doesn’t get cold until June. If you go in April or May it’s a great time to be there.
May I ask what you do in the ‘art world’?
Have a great time ! How long will you be gone?
only 6 days bloggin time
You’ll be just fine in Madrid.
Thanks Murat, yes, I will.
May I ask what you do in the ‘art world’?
I own a gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Will that close the tag? Hope so.
Edward, did you ever disclose the name of that art gallery? I like a lot of the galleries there, and I would definitely make a pilgrimage to yours if I could.
Jackmormon,
Please stop in any time. I don’t want to use ObWi to promote my business, but if you ask any gallery in Brooklyn where I am they should tell you. (see email address for my full name).
e
If you worry about european attitudes towards americans, just wear a John Kerry button (they will be cheap now…)
We are just anti-Bush, nothin else.
wear a John Kerry button (they will be cheap now…)
LOL
I’ll bring one along.
e
Rob,
🙂 That’s cute
Thanks Edward. My googling results suggest I might have been by a couple of years ago. I’ll come out again for the next exhibit. (I also found an interview in which you prophecy the decline of the glossy aesthetic–I hope, oh god, I really hope you’re right.)
I also found an interview in which you prophecy the decline of the glossy aesthetic–
Yikes! How arrogant I was. (Yet, if you’ve been to LA, you’ll note how prophetic.)
Arrogant? Nah, the interviewer asked. What’s going on in LA I should know about?
What’s going on in LA I should know about?
For lack of a better term (not a critic) Slacker art. Anything that looks too “well-crafted” is sneered at. You’re lucky to get the painters to stretch their canvases. (joke)
Also Neo-Goth is hot right now too.
For lack of a better term (not a critic) Slacker art. Anything that looks too “well-crafted” is sneered at. You’re lucky to get the painters to stretch their canvases. (joke)
Also Neo-Goth is hot right now too.
But their custom furniture is looking better and better. Guess I’ll continue to stick with Bay Area figurative oils. Neo-Goth?
I think the term can be tightened up some…
The linked exhibit doesn’t look that surprising to me–a bit more insistently crude and political maybe. Do you think that the Great Return of Drawing (in NYC I’d put it at around 2002 or 2003) is a related trend?
Neo-goth art? Please tell me it’s more about blackness and death than about pale drowned maidens. Please?
Neo-Goth
Visit the Whitney 2004 Biennial’s website and navigate to Themes,* you’ll see 11 artists listed under “Gothic”
Some of them were listed under other things until Gothic became “hot” again, but David Altmejd, Hernan Bas, Tom Burr, and Liz Craft are good examples of the newer, darker trend/fad/movement/whatever.
*It’s in Flash, so I can’t give you a direct link.