Why Is Modern Art So Bad?

In this video, Robert Florczak of Prager University explains why modern art is so terribly bad. I am in complete agreement with every major point in his argument, but I must exclude the work of Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Dali and their contemporaries from this blanket condemnation. However, I would include abstract-expressionism. Also, I believe he has left out something important. Contemporary art, art produced after 1950 or so, isn't great, isn't good, and it isn't even shocking -- it is simply mediocre.

“For two millennia, great artists set the standard for beauty. Now those standards are gone. Modern art is a competition between the ugly and the twisted; the most shocking wins. What happened? How did the beautiful come to be reviled and bad taste come to be celebrated? Renowned artist Robert Florczak explains the history and the mystery behind this change and how it can be stopped and even reversed.” (credit: Artisan's Atlas)

House Hunting for Artists in San Miguel

I’ve noticed that there are many more people making inquiries about renting or buying a house in San Miguel before they arrive in the city. I believe this is a mistake. You cannot rely on what realtors and sellers tell you about living in the city – you’ve got to see it for yourself in order to decide if living here long term is right for you. Whether you are planning to rent or buy, the old adage about location-location-location certainly applies here in spades. San Miguel’s neighborhoods are very diverse.

Many people want to live in centro, the historical downtown, but they will have to pay a premium, the highest rates in the city for the privilege of being within 15-minute walking distance of just about everything except the large supermarkets. There are plenty of livable neighborhoods on the fringes of centro, but they each have their pluses and minuses.

You must consider the major housing options:

1)    A traditional house built of bricks and concrete, often but not always with small rooms, a patio and/or a roof-top terrace, some kind of greenery 

2)    A modern house in an upscale neighborhood such as Los Frailes, Balcones or Atascadero. For the artist on a budget, these are quite pricey at $150,000 to 300,000 USD.

3)    A condo usually for adults only with green spaces and often a communal area, such as El Secreto or Las Ventanas. There are quite a few of these in town, also pricey.

4)    A pre-fab style development of mostly 3-bedroom, 2-bath houses with patios and terraces on the roof that you will probably want to customize to suit your needs. There are many of these, primarily on the outskirts, and more seem to be erupting all the time. Priced in the $80,000 -100,000 USD range.

As an artist, you will of course need studio space, and many of the houses here have an extra bedroom that can be converted into a comfortable work area. The older houses here have many different layout configurations, and you will be pleased with the wealth of variety and the many options for studios.