Note on Art

Note on Art

A note from LeRoy Neiman on critical reception as well as his interest in jazz musicians Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong.

The note from LeRoy Neiman contains multiple commentaries, including one on his critical reception and another on Louis Armstrong. The former is one of many illustrating Neiman’s indignation over his exclusion from the “art world". The latter provides a general look at Armstrong, his celebrity, and pop culture anecdotes. Webbing these distinct sections, are some general comments about criticism and popularity detached from explicit subject or person. The proximity of these three accounts invites conflation. But, it is a probably more reasonable to assume Neiman is thinking about artistic merit and celebrity culture more generally, abstractly weaving disparate experiences.

LeRoy Neiman

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

c. 2000-11

LeRoy Neiman

Property of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation; please consult the organization's archivist for further details.

Notes

Image/jpeg

English

Document

LN_Notes_2215

New York (N.Y.) New York

EXCORIATED
Belittled by intellectuals and musicologists
To say Neiman’s work was not appreciated is to [?] the obvious who scorn as and worse hoping
I would go away
Bessie Smith
Musicians were sticking their heads out windows to catch colds to sing and sound like Satchmo
why fore ask you this
Contraband art
I’ve had my pictures put people into a trance
A justly obscure artist
sunshine baby.
I was building a reputation with nurturing
trumpet and coronet
Louis – international celebrity, and
ambassador of Jazz and goodwill
or media star folk hero – plus
most INNOVATED FORCE IN JAZZ HISTORY ‘

Permanent marker on paper.