Leonard Cohen Makes Art Too

by Art Fag City on May 30, 2007 · 8 comments Events

Leonard Cohen

In 1993 Leonard Cohen received the Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist (Canada’s answer to the Grammies.) Although I was young at the time, I do recall his receipt of the award beginning something to the effect of “only in Canada could I win an award for my singing ability.” He might well issue a similar disclaimer for a new exhibition of his art at the Luminato Arts Festival in Toronto. Why do people think gifted musicians and poets must also have facility in fine art? Does this painting tell us nothing?

Related: Drawn to Cohen’s Artistry – Toronto Star

{ 8 comments }

b. May 30, 2007 at 7:29 pm

does commercial success in one field breed desire for success in another? i’ve told you this in conversation before, but david bryne, who makes some interesting non-musical work, might be an interesting counterpoint here. to get back to Cohen, though, his list of credentials also include a mildly popular novel, which i haven’t ready and, judging it on some reviews, probably won’t be reading any time soon.

b. May 30, 2007 at 3:29 pm

does commercial success in one field breed desire for success in another? i’ve told you this in conversation before, but david bryne, who makes some interesting non-musical work, might be an interesting counterpoint here. to get back to Cohen, though, his list of credentials also include a mildly popular novel, which i haven’t ready and, judging it on some reviews, probably won’t be reading any time soon.

Art Fag City May 30, 2007 at 9:06 pm

I just feel a lot of cross discipline promotion is premature. David Bryne and Brian Eno are good examples of artists who are extremely versatile, but most times I think people are looking for ways to capitalize commercially on fame. And sometimes it’s just misguided good will. The best recent example of this I can think of comes from Abha Dawesar, whose reading for her novel Babyji I had attended some time ago and I quite enjoyed. About a year later she was given a show at the Village Quill. Check out this work. I mean her art isn’t hurting anyone but….

Art Fag City May 30, 2007 at 9:06 pm

I just feel a lot of cross discipline promotion is premature. David Bryne and Brian Eno are good examples of artists who are extremely versatile, but most times I think people are looking for ways to capitalize commercially on fame. And sometimes it’s just misguided good will. The best recent example of this I can think of comes from Abha Dawesar, whose reading for her novel Babyji I had attended some time ago and I quite enjoyed. About a year later she was given a show at the Village Quill. Check out this work. I mean her art isn’t hurting anyone but….

Art Fag City May 30, 2007 at 5:06 pm

I just feel a lot of cross discipline promotion is premature. David Bryne and Brian Eno are good examples of artists who are extremely versatile, but most times I think people are looking for ways to capitalize commercially on fame. And sometimes it’s just misguided good will. The best recent example of this I can think of comes from Abha Dawesar, whose reading for her novel Babyji I had attended some time ago and I quite enjoyed. About a year later she was given a show at the Village Quill. Check out this work. I mean her art isn’t hurting anyone but….

b. May 31, 2007 at 1:29 am

oh man. i think it was a good on her web designer’s to skip on making the paintings clickable to enlarge ๐Ÿ˜‰

b. May 31, 2007 at 1:29 am

oh man. i think it was a good on her web designer’s to skip on making the paintings clickable to enlarge ๐Ÿ˜‰

b. May 30, 2007 at 9:29 pm

oh man. i think it was a good on her web designer’s to skip on making the paintings clickable to enlarge ๐Ÿ˜‰

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