THE NEW ARTIST

Though artists have occupied various ranks of the social ladder throughout history, in the 19th and most of the 20th centuries they were considered specialized members of high culture whose primary mission was to hone their expressive skills. That is changing. “Being an artist now includes things like being an articulate advocate, and ambassador and an educator.” – Orange County Register

BALANCING ART AND POWER

Recent experience of the past hundred years says that art commissioned by government is usually a mediocre affair. But step back a few centuries and it’s a different story. Without the Vatican, the Italian principalities and the royal courts of Vienna, Paris, Madrid, London and Brussels, among others, Europe’s artistic heritage would be a great deal poorer. – New York Times