Aesthetic Eye
On the last week of Jeremy Strick’s 15 years of successful leadership as the Director of the Nasher Sculpture Center, we went to lunch and discussed his approach to the Nasher. I have always loved the exhibitions at the Nasher while Jeremy was the Director. Credit must also be given to the Jed Morse, Chief Curator. These exhibits were all very different and I never stopped to think what was their common denominator. At lunch I discovered that any potential exhibition first had to pass through two filters. The work had to have a point of view and the work had to be visually appealing. This might sound obvious. Modern art is known for having an edgy point of view, and art is of course stimulating and appealing. But how often has one gone to a modern art exhibit and you get the point the artist is making but aesthetically the work is lacking? Jeremy Strick’s aesthetic eye was drawn to powerful pieces that were presented as more than a concept; they were presented as art.
A protestor can shout a point of view, but an orator can entice and compel with radical ideas eloquently presented. I looked back at just how diverse the Nasher exhibitions were. One saw hard edges, soft edges, some were humorous, some were stern, subtle or exaggerated. However, they were all like visual oratory – graceful and lyrical as they presented a strong point of view.
While Jeremy Strick did not announce his plans for the future outside of traveling to Europe and both coasts this summer, I presume he will be advising on art in some capacity. What a good baseline for any collection – think like Jeremy Strick. Does the piece you are considering have a point of view and is it visually appealing? What a good baseline for any architecturally significant home – does it have an architectural point of view and is it appealing to live in?
Thank you, Jeremy, for what you added to Dallas and to my personal enjoyment and understanding of art. *Aesthetic Eye
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