Transvestite potters... in the news... Turner Prize..

News of the weird... yeah.. I love the internet... What next.. we all
show up on Jerry Springer... Naked potters on Springer...

LONDON (Reuters) - Pickled cows, elephant dung paintings and a
transvestite potter -- The Turner Prize deserves its reputation as one
of art's most controversial awards.

LONDON (Reuters) - Pickled cows, elephant dung paintings and a
transvestite potter -- The Turner Prize deserves its reputation as one
of art's most controversial awards.
Now art lovers can decide for themselves if the prize rewards
pretentious twaddle or cutting edge British art. Almost a quarter of a
century of Turner prizewinners went on display on Monday at London's
Tate Britain museum.
The Turner enrages traditionalists who argue that it is a travesty of
modern art, but the show attracts up to 120,000 visitors a year
intrigued to see what all the fuss is about.
In 1995, the "Bad Boy" of British contemporary art Damien Hirst won with
a pickled cow.

In 2003, transvestite potter Grayson Perry wore a frilly Shirley Temple
dress to accept his award.

Chris Ofili used elephant dung to adorn his 1998 winning entries.
Pop star Madonna swore live on television when presenting the award in
2001 to Martin Creed, who won with a bare room containing a light that
switched on and off.
But is it art? The debate has raged ever since the Turner was first
awarded in 1984, although one thing critics can agree on is that the
prize deserved full marks for putting contemporary art in the center of
public discussion.
"All publicity is good publicity. I give it 10 out of 10 for opening up
public debate and 10 out of 10 for exporting the event around the world.
Britart is in sparkling health," said art writer Meredith Etherington-Smith.
Reflecting on the art fest habitually derided by mocking tabloid
newspapers, ArtReview editor Mark Rappolt said: "It certainly pulls in
the crowds and other countries like France and Germany have set up their
own versions."
But he sounded a note of caution.
"Where it is going now is an open question. At some point you are going
to run out of noteworthy young artists. Some years it can be a
struggle," he told Reuters. "But it has definitely helped to popularize
art."
Tate Britain director Stephen Deuchar defends the prize, telling Reuters
at Monday's press viewing: "We do not deliberately sensationalize.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
"We want the artists to be comfortable with media pressure. We have to
shield them. But of course the point of the prize was to stimulate
debate, so we can't turn around and complain."

[You're just jealous because you don't look as pretty in a frilly frock...]

Andrew


"Russell Andavall" wrote in message
et...
News of the weird... yeah.. I love the internet... What next.. we all show
up on Jerry Springer... Naked potters on Springer...

LONDON (Reuters) - Pickled cows, elephant dung paintings and a
transvestite potter -- The Turner Prize deserves its reputation as one of
art's most controversial awards.

LONDON (Reuters) - Pickled cows, elephant dung paintings and a
transvestite potter -- The Turner Prize deserves its reputation as one of
art's most controversial awards.
Now art lovers can decide for themselves if the prize rewards pretentious
twaddle or cutting edge British art. Almost a quarter of a century of
Turner prizewinners went on display on Monday at London's Tate Britain
museum.
The Turner enrages traditionalists who argue that it is a travesty of
modern art, but the show attracts up to 120,000 visitors a year intrigued
to see what all the fuss is about.
In 1995, the "Bad Boy" of British contemporary art Damien Hirst won with a
pickled cow.

In 2003, transvestite potter Grayson Perry wore a frilly Shirley Temple
dress to accept his award.

Chris Ofili used elephant dung to adorn his 1998 winning entries.
Pop star Madonna swore live on television when presenting the award in
2001 to Martin Creed, who won with a bare room containing a light that
switched on and off.
But is it art? The debate has raged ever since the Turner was first
awarded in 1984, although one thing critics can agree on is that the prize
deserved full marks for putting contemporary art in the center of public
discussion.
"All publicity is good publicity. I give it 10 out of 10 for opening up
public debate and 10 out of 10 for exporting the event around the world.
Britart is in sparkling health," said art writer Meredith
Etherington-Smith.
Reflecting on the art fest habitually derided by mocking tabloid
newspapers, ArtReview editor Mark Rappolt said: "It certainly pulls in the
crowds and other countries like France and Germany have set up their own
versions."
But he sounded a note of caution.
"Where it is going now is an open question. At some point you are going to
run out of noteworthy young artists. Some years it can be a struggle," he
told Reuters. "But it has definitely helped to popularize art."
Tate Britain director Stephen Deuchar defends the prize, telling Reuters
at Monday's press viewing: "We do not deliberately sensationalize. Nothing
could be further from the truth.
"We want the artists to be comfortable with media pressure. We have to
shield them. But of course the point of the prize was to stimulate debate,
so we can't turn around and complain."