Nica's Blog

Saturday Night Live did a skit something like this many years ago, but these guys have updated the gags nicely. There is something just so fun and naughty about violating the sanctity of Abe Lincoln.

Most of the time when someone describes an art exhibit as "interesting", I usually assume they are using a euphemism for "not interesting". If something is truly interesting, the viewer will not generically describe the scene, but talk about very particular details of the art and the feelings they have about the art. But maybe I've been misinterpreting the i-word. I caught myself describing R. Crumb's exhibit at the Frye Art Museum. His work has a distinctive style, but his subject matter is surprisingly varied. Primarily a pen and ink artist, he also has a dramatic sculpture of "Devil Girl". The subject matter is sometimes utterly revolting. For the first time I have heard a museum staff member giving a tour using the expression "ass sucking". Crumb has himself many revolting characteristics, both physically and psychically, and he shows these flaws off on paper. He likes drawing himself as a child, or as a spindely child-like adult, always sweating, always with an erection bulging his pants. He seems to long for a meaty woman with huge jutting breats, minimal personality, and heavy legs, a mother surrogate with a lobotomy.

R.Crumb closely associated with the 60's counter-culture, did not like the music of the era. He has a love of Jazz, old Jazz on 78 rpm records. That is didn't fit into the alternative tastes of his coterie is, I believe, a good thing. An outcast should be a bit of an oddball even among outcasts.

I can't claim to actually enjoy reading his comics. He is a fine draftsman. He is still active making comics for the New Yorker. Much of his humor disgusts me, or simply goes over my head. But his work is interesting.