Deaner: I may write about the work, so I’ll know better at that time, but as a general observation, I’d say it’s really hard to have an objective opinion about his work because he’s so famous. Every time you look at his work, you’re also looking at his public personality. So I guess I’d say, that the works I’ve seen in person haven’t blown me away, but I haven’t seen the show, so I can’t judge it yet.

Second, in response to your question in the post itself, “Does anyone else find this really annoying?” I have to be honest with you: while maybe the snippet is pandering, and perhaps even annoying depending on one’s mood (not to mention its source), I found your reaction to also be a little annoying. It is elitist. You draw attention to both the quote and yourself in a way that suggests a worthlessness of his words, and a higher value to yours, despite the fact that you haven’t even seen the work that inspired the comment to begin with. At any rate, all either of you seems to be talking about here is Ryan McGinley himself, so if you don’t like McGinley, it might be better to just say so and say that you disagree with Artforum, rather than be sarcastic. It would make you sound more reputable and respectable, and make for something more interesting and worthwhile to read.

Not trying to be confrontational or aggressive. This is coming from someone who appreciates you for information in/on the art world. Just my two cents.

Also, “haven’t been blown away” doesn’t mean dislike. Over rated maybe, but I wouldn’t go so far as dislike.

Now I’m gushing.

All that aside, I think you should definitely see the show. It’s a strong body overall.

And has anyone even seen a Wyeth painting recently? I thought they were trite, sentimental, american folk garbage, but actually, they’re skillfully made, thoughtful and quite beautiful. I don’t want to say he’s turning over in his grave, but he might be.

Which isn’t terrible, except for reminding me of Abercrombie ads minus the sexy people. And the minimal aesthetic quality as photographs- well it seems like snapshots of trust-fund hippies larking about on drugs. It reminds me of what I hated about Darjeeling Express- beautiful scenery in an exotic setting, self-absorbed characters on a road trip. “Like, wow- America beyond the Lower East Side is like, wow- let’s get naked.”

It’s more about the imagined lifestyle of the artist than the photos- famous, carefree, young, hip and successful. But really boring and any aesthetic value in a single photo almost seems like an accident. Just mho.

Andrew Wyeth isn’t dead

You once thought of Andrew Wyeth as trite, sentimental, american folk garbage…but you eventually woke up…I sense the same thing will happen for you regarding Ryan.

I’m happy that Johnny Nella set you straight about Mr. Wyeth…who is still happily at work.

ps not all of the Morrissey series were colour spash pictures…some were non-colour splash pictures.