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Interesting Choices.

BTW:
You pick cotton.
You Choose artwork.

if i could have PICKED artwork for the white house; from DC Museums...this is not what i would have chosen. i am disappointed.

The Glenn Ligon was good choice- although I would have preferred Sam Gilliam to Alma Thomas if we're talking D.C. artists.

I really hate modern art, the office I work in is covered with it and daily I want to scream. I cannot imagine living with it by choice....but then again, If I had access to some of the greatest art in the world, I might feel differently.

I love modern art. I just don't care for THAT modern art. As long as they like it...

I'll keep my mouth shut, this time.

It would be interesting to see all of the choices that were available. I do wonder why these particular paintings spoke to the Obamas. In fairness, they are out of context grouped together, and so they don't impress ~ My verdict is out until I see them in their new home.

I love the pieces.

With respect to the First Family's choices, it's worth reading the NY Times article on this. It includes a much more balanced photo set of the choices. The choices were extremely thoughtful and I, for one, celebrate a White House art collection that isn't tied solely to the distant past.

To "DrRubyDoomsday," you seem to assume a consistency among modern artists that isn't there. The only difference between modern art and art of previous style periods is that we haven't yet had the benefit of a thorough historical filter to eliminate inferior work from the public discourse. If you think about what you know of a particular style period -- the Renaissance, for example -- you immediately think about masterworks that have been elevated to their status by decade after decade of critical evaluation. You are not likely to think of, or even be aware of, the thousands of mediocre examples from that period that simply haven't survived. With the modern era, by contrast, history hasn't definitively told us which works will transcend the rest. There are plenty of well-chosen collections, but what you see everyday mostly consists of mediocre work that will be discarded by history. There is, almost by definition, much more of that at any given point in time, than truly transcendent work.

I think that everyone should embrace the art of the present -- it is, after all, our art. But that doesn't mean the art on your office walls is equivalent to the greatest examples of art being created today.

Ooh. And they chose THREE Josef Albers "Homage to the Square" - only my favourite artist and art work Ever!!!

Wow....really??? Of all the contemporary art to chose from...this???? I don't even know what to say about this.

Modern painting is nihilistic, and it has nothing to do with the history and the traditions that the White House represents.

With all the stuff he has to deal with, why does O stir up yet more controversy with this choice?

Very eloquently put Bluespark.

"Modern painting is nihilistic, and it has nothing to do with the history and the traditions that the White House represents."

Wow - And I thought it was simply about a bunch of pretty colors...

Bluespark: On the nose.

And I disagree with the ignorant statement that "modern painting is nihilistic..." Really? ALL of it? And "[modern painting] has nothing to do with the history and the traditions that the White House represents." Which history and whose traditions? Does the White House represent only sweetness and light? There are no dark or dubious aspects to its past or symbolism? For all Americans or just you? For just Americans or everyone in the world?

I'm just glad to see more contemporary choices enlivening the White House collection. It can be a way of introducing people to new things, as well as demonstrate that contemporary and traditional art don't need to exist in separate worlds--they're part of the same conversation.

bad taste
all pictures are very ugly

"With all the stuff he has to deal with, why does O stir up yet more controversy with this choice?" With all the stuff this man has to deal with, why can't people stop making controversy out of everything he does? Really, if "Black like me no. 2" doesn't go with your pink chair, it doesn't mean the guy's a socialist.

"You pick cotton. You Choose artwork." Progress!! (I know what you meant bepsf, it just made me giggle...)

I think the WH should get some cute Etsy prints to appease the AT community. "Buffalo Chase, with accidents" almost qualifies...

I don't like the paintings. I love modern art, but the paintings are not very interesting and don't really say anything...In other words BORING....

Can't please everyone, I guess. I think the fact they're trying to switch it up to modern is in itself kind of interesting, and I wonder what the whole selection process was like, who they consulted (if anyone), if anyone had a problem with it, etc. Anyway, I like these pieces. Are these on my fantasy wishlist of modern art? No, but then again I don't know what's in storage in DC museums.

If only Michelle had chosen a "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster! Then we could have really let loose on her!

(Not that she would have - we all know the Obamas' position on the British and their history).

Unfortunately in the modern world the personal is the political. The Obamas chose art based on socio-politics, and now we judge them on the same socio-politics. Are there enough African-Amercan artists? Is there an appropriate gender mix? Did any of the artists hold opinions at odds with the current official postions of the White House? Their supporters use their choices to boost them, their critics use their choices to pull them down.

It would have been nice if the Obamas could simply have chosen works that are beautiful and profound, and if we had judged them on the same criteria.

I think it's difficult to judge art on a computer screen. "Watusi" and "Nice" may be more impressive in person. I personally love "Buffalo Chase with Accidents". I wish it was on Etsy!