Indiana @ Paul Kasmin

Review
Robert Indiana: Wood
Paul Kasmin Gallery
thru 10/8/05

• Art became Pop, but popularity is not art. Maybe we all got a little “confused” due to some “influences” in the 60’s. I don’t know. I wasn’t there. I believe an Artist (capital A) can have a masterpiece, but is never a one hit wonder. Robert Indiana designed an amazing greeting card and postage stamp 40 years ago. But it’s about time we moved his paintings into storage with our lava lamps, transferred his name from Art History to Graphic Design history, and hauled his sculptures (and this show) to some Oceanside gift shop. This show unintentionally drops the curtain on a mediocre Oz to begin with. It’s like seeing a famous musician live, only to realize that they’re talentless outside the veil of a mixing studio. My apologies to Paul Kasmin (otherwise an amazing gallery), Philadelphia, and the collectors hanging a ½ million dollar Indiana painting above their Noguchi coffee table. (see full review)