VENICE

“One of the great rules of art: Do not linger,” decreed Andre Gide. Seven new paintings by John Miller appear to have tarried too long at the ‘70s Minimalist Faire and seem a bit dated and dull because of it. Large monochromatic fields comprised of loosely gridded dots and dashes, the pictures have an Oriental elegance that’s rather attractive. Nonetheless, this is fairly uneventful work--sort of like a visual rendition of the muted, whooshing sound a blank video monitor emits. Miller raises issues concerning optical phenomena in that the patterns are structured to make your head spin if you stare at them too long. Intensely controlled and highly informed, these pictures are a direct product of the Modernist’s bible. Only things lacking are the central ingredients of good art: irreverence and a personal vision. (New City Editions, 525 Venezia Ave., to Dec. 20.)