Jerry Saltz

Well, I had... lit upon one giant project. I think in retrospect, it was to protect me from having to come up with a new idea every time out. I was going to illustrate Dante's Divine Comedy, all 100 cantos or chapters. I was going to do 100 works on each of the 100 cantos and And it would be a 25-year project. I know, I'm nuts. It would be a 25-year project. That's incredible.

Well, I had... lit upon one giant project. I think in retrospect, it was to protect me from having to come up with a new idea every time out. I was going to illustrate Dante's Divine Comedy, all 100 cantos or chapters. I was going to do 100 works on each of the 100 cantos and And it would be a 25-year project. I know, I'm nuts. It would be a 25-year project. That's incredible.

It began two days before Easter 1975, before everybody here was born. It was supposed to end on Easter the year 2000. Okay, that's...

It began two days before Easter 1975, before everybody here was born. It was supposed to end on Easter the year 2000. Okay, that's...

Yeah, and I made it as far as the third canto. The work was well received. But as you know, with all the great stuff happening to you, how old are you? I am 39 years old. Already. You think I'm over the hill, I'm washed up.

Yeah, and I made it as far as the third canto. The work was well received. But as you know, with all the great stuff happening to you, how old are you? I am 39 years old. Already. You think I'm over the hill, I'm washed up.

Yeah, mine hurts, and I have aches and pains. Nothing will protect you. So all I can offer is to say to yourself, I'm not going to look at others, the accomplishment of others. I'm going to just look at myself. You are cause in the matter. You created your situation, not all of their success. So make an enemy of envy.

Yeah, mine hurts, and I have aches and pains. Nothing will protect you. So all I can offer is to say to yourself, I'm not going to look at others, the accomplishment of others. I'm going to just look at myself. You are cause in the matter. You created your situation, not all of their success. So make an enemy of envy.

Anybody listening to this podcast will understand this. You would never look at every goddamn New York Jets game and say, they're so great. Oh my God, their offensive line is off the charts fantastic. No, love means also being critical. Movie critics aren't supposed to like everything. Wine writers don't love every wine. But for some reason... Art critics are expected to love everything.

Anybody listening to this podcast will understand this. You would never look at every goddamn New York Jets game and say, they're so great. Oh my God, their offensive line is off the charts fantastic. No, love means also being critical. Movie critics aren't supposed to like everything. Wine writers don't love every wine. But for some reason... Art critics are expected to love everything.

I would say that we're living in a period of culture where criticism has seemed to leave the building, meaning that everyone's afraid. I know what we're afraid of. We're afraid of being called racist, sexist, homophobes, xenophobes. So what's happened... I think through a lack of nerve, but also a dramatic shift in what criticism is in the present. Now criticism holds things up.

I would say that we're living in a period of culture where criticism has seemed to leave the building, meaning that everyone's afraid. I know what we're afraid of. We're afraid of being called racist, sexist, homophobes, xenophobes. So what's happened... I think through a lack of nerve, but also a dramatic shift in what criticism is in the present. Now criticism holds things up.

We put this woman artist above us and we hold her up or that queer artist above us. I'm all for that. The art world had closed doors for 50,000 years. Where are all the Asian artists in Western art history? There aren't any because we didn't believe it was possible. I imagine sports is going through something similar but on a corporate level as it becomes more and more and more monetized.

We put this woman artist above us and we hold her up or that queer artist above us. I'm all for that. The art world had closed doors for 50,000 years. Where are all the Asian artists in Western art history? There aren't any because we didn't believe it was possible. I imagine sports is going through something similar but on a corporate level as it becomes more and more and more monetized.

Oh, sure.

Oh, sure.

Yeah, or whatever the number is, it's an obscene amount of money. It's offensive. You could fund every rape kit left languishing on the shelves in America for 10 years for that one painting. But on the other hand, somebody wanted the painting. You only need two people to bid on something. That's right. And I hate auctions, but I accept them as part of our current reality. On the other hand...

Yeah, or whatever the number is, it's an obscene amount of money. It's offensive. You could fund every rape kit left languishing on the shelves in America for 10 years for that one painting. But on the other hand, somebody wanted the painting. You only need two people to bid on something. That's right. And I hate auctions, but I accept them as part of our current reality. On the other hand...

It leaves an opening for everyone else who isn't obsessed with money. We all want it. I get that. We're supposed to be jealous of everyone making $59 million. But it leaves an opening for art to get on with its business. And it's doing just great.

It leaves an opening for everyone else who isn't obsessed with money. We all want it. I get that. We're supposed to be jealous of everyone making $59 million. But it leaves an opening for art to get on with its business. And it's doing just great.