It's time to change the NEA's motto
In New York on Monday, First Lady Michelle Obama cut the ribbon to inaugurate the renovation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American wing. The dais was set up in front of the Neoclassical marble facade of Martin E. Thompson's 1822-24 Branch Bank of the United States, which might not have been the best bit of symbolism right now. (The bank was originally located on Wall Street.) Still, the ceremony went off like clockwork.
Now that the high-profile media event is done, and with a provocative new chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts in the pipeline, here's a suggestion. It's also symbolic and it's cost-free too: Let's change the motto of the NEA.
The endowment's current slogan is "A Great Nation Deserves Great Art."
Wince. That imperial bit of provincial pomposity has things exactly backward.
Here's a new NEA motto: "Great Art Makes a Great Nation."
After all, that is how it works.
--Christopher Knight
Credit: Stan Honda, AFP/Getty Images
Perfect. Who knew you had great branding chops as well, Christopher? Where do I sign the petition for the new motto?
Posted by: Carolyn Campbell | May 19, 2009 at 01:04 PM
I love your new motto. Inspiring!
Posted by: Kent Twitchell | May 19, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Sadly, Christopher, I'm not sure I believe either of those statements are true.
Posted by: Bill Hackman | May 20, 2009 at 01:56 PM
Uh, that's even more pompous, of artists to think they make a nation. How about this, and it is truth. The shock of the True being the only point of art, the shock of the new being about the marketing of crap.
Great Art Reflects the Lives of a Great people.
What it has been reflecting hasn't exactly been that lately, its been about showing what the powers that were, WANTED us to see, and think, for control. To market, commodify, and rip folks off. Art was their vehicle, and also, victim.
Get to it CK, your job is NOT to tell us what art is, to explain it, but to seek, and present it. WE will make up our own minds, stop giving the hard sell spiel of the museo/academic/gallery/complex. Only artists should speak, you need to start listening, with your eyes. Instead of your wallet.
art collegia delenda est
Posted by: Donald Frazell | May 20, 2009 at 02:32 PM
I think it's a great new motto too and would reflect more accurately on the current situation we're facing.
Also, I really just wanted to write about how sick to death I am of reading Donald Frazell's opinions. Hooray, free speech!
Posted by: Chris | May 21, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Yes, it is every American's hard fought for right to make a complete fool of himself. As entire industries have lately, the visual art's not the least among them.
art collegia delenda est
Posted by: Donald Frazell | May 21, 2009 at 01:03 PM
I like it! Much better than the current one. Such a terrible slogan, doesn't sound like it values art at all.
Posted by: Bryan Matsumoto | May 22, 2009 at 08:32 PM
I don't think either slogan is true.
Great nations make great art.
Art doesn't make nations.
This nation is disappearing, and so is its art.
Propaganda we have plenty of.
Propaganda unifies political movements to take power, to make it appear that they deserve power.
Posted by: Epater Bourgeois | May 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I'd have to agree with some of what's been said here. and if I had to choose between the two, I would favor the new over the old. but neither is exactly right. and the notion that a great nation deserves great art makes me cringe.
But since we are on the subject, why is it that taxpayer dollars have to go to fund the arts? doesn't that imply that our "greatness" is artificial. What if it were left to the people, to society, and to the free market to provide art? Then that would be the test as to whether we are a great nation, at least on that plane of judgement.
Lets abolish the NEA. Let Americans keep more of their money, and give the artists without doctorates in musical theory or a buddy in the business a chance to compete.
Posted by: Philip Hayes | November 23, 2009 at 07:54 PM