Just recently there was an article in the local newspaper the Virginian Pilot which serves the people of the Metro Norfolk, Virginia Beach and entire Hampton Roads area. The article was titled "PartyArty" and was written by Roberta T. Vowell a reporter with the Virginian Pilot. This article really struck a note. I really do not think the reporter figured that their article would take on a different spin. As I read the article it really made me further examine how people support the arts where I live. It made me reflect on many things that I have seen locally firsthand and personally. The article showed the ugly underbelly of the local arts scene and how the locals really "support" the arts. I will post an excerpt of Roberta T. Vowell's article "PartyArty" here so you will see for yourself.

Donald Honeycutt is talking art. He's got his blazer-and-turtleneck look going, leaning hard on one of those high tables drinkers standing around, leaning into a trio of women who staked out this spot first. "You look at a Picasso," says Honeycutt, 45, shouting over the din of a four-piece rock band. "You ever see a Picasso? You look at a Monet. You ever see a Monet?" He doesn't wait for an answer. The women back away from their table. "You ever see a Van Gogh?" Honeycutt says. That (expletive) was crazy."

He sips wine from a plastic cup, chews a gob of green minty gum. He's come from Hampton for this party, and after-work affair at the Chrysler Museum of Art. He takes a long look around, delivers a verdict. "The women do look (mild expletive) good.".........

Okay is that enough? Do you get the picture? If this is the state of what supporting the arts has been reduced to then the arts are dead. It appears that supporting the arts locally where I live has taken on a bad personna that is like a bad script of "Lounge Lizard Larry". Its like go to the museum, get drunk, and get fucked.

The comments that Mr. Honeycutt spewed forth at the Art Party at the Chrysler Museum proves that the motivation for going to the museum has absolutely nothing to do with art. It shows that the Museum has been reduced to a low class honky tonk and a place to pick up a one night stand piece of ass.

Sorry Mr. Honeycutt's of the world, you can drop as many art names that you probably overheard as you flunked out of Art 101 but all it does is show how ignorant you really are. Tell me why is it that it seems that no one can think or name any artists other than Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, or Thomas Kinkade??? Have we all evolved into shallow beings with brains so small that these are the only artists names that we can learn and regurgitate?

I think that instead of going to the Art Museums and galleries of the world this breed needs to keep it in their pants and in the bars. It really seems like this same script plays out at every art venue there is locally where I live. Instead of the art galleries really supporting the arts by supporting local artists, supporting up coming or aspiring artists, developing new alternative galleries and shows, they seem to have fallen into this scene of a drunken dating service.

With all of this in mind maybe I am better off by not having much to do with the local art scene. There is one thing for sure I am not going to kiss any of these people's asses to "make it" here with my art. I am not going to snort coke with you, I am not going to have sex with you to get ahead. I am not going to tell you how nice or how beautiful you are to feed your weak fragile ego. I am not going to invite you over to my studio to see my work. I am not going to do anything for you. I think by taking my art elsewhere says it best.