In a Critic, Little Knowledge Can Be a Dangerous Thing

I am in the art business for 24 years and have a wealth of experience. Unfortunately, Cathy Curtis’s article “Rattle and Hum” (O.C. Live!, March 12) is the first time that someone is writing something about my art without contacting me beforehand. Even when a short paragraph was written about my work in the past, the writer attempted to get in contact with me.

I think an art critic or art reviewer’s job is to educate the public. Personal opinions are a different story. They belong to the opinion section of the newspaper, just as sports-related stories are printed in the sports section and not in the entertainment guide. I consider Curtis’ article a personal opinion.

I do like criticism; I learned quite a bit from it. My problem is with Curtis’ lack of knowledge as presented in her article. Her interpretation shows a lack of understanding visual logic. People go to school for several years to learn about it. An art writer should know about images and their logical patterns.

The poem, of course, is not about “the nocturnal sounds of wild animals.” Poems deal with metaphors. The obvious is not the meaning in a poem, has never been. Political lyric might be an exception.

Did she listen to the audiotape in front of the room? If she did, then it is completely out of my range to understand how my sound piece could be only “an opportunity for letting off steam.”

“Bolted objects that look like trailer hitches” is another phrase showing lack of knowledge. The “bolted objects” are harrows, quite an important agricultural instrument. You would not have bread on your table if not for those bolted objects.

An installation like mine needs to be interpreted a bit different than a painting. Every single part has its importance. Only the combination provides you with the entire meaning. By de-parting an installation, as Curtis did, one gets lost, and a poem that is a central part will seem to be out of sync.

To understand my work better, Curtis could have gone to the Civic Center of Irvine--the Fine Arts Center staff and the prospectus of the show could have directed her to it. At the Civic Center, she would have seen an exhibition of sculptures and plenty of printed explanation why the sculptures are the way they are. That solo show is on display until April 21.

WOLF GOWIN

Anaheim