New Article "Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006" by John Wooton and Asbjorn Lonvig

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Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006
by John Wooton, Author and Creator, The SEO Journal Blog  and Asbjorn Lonvig.

Readers of my latest Art News Artblog have asked me to write about how I got a relatively good presence on the internet.
Yesterday's statistics:
150,000 hits on Google.com and 100,000 hits on Yahoo.com on the search term "lonvig"
and 64,708 hits and 1,176,552,123 bytes transferred per day on my web site www.lonvig.dk.

John Wooton:

As you know, every year is always rocked by a plethora of changes in the search engine marketing world. The acquisition of smaller companies by the Big 3 changes the marketing landscape as we know it every month and with every update to the index that is made, we hold our breath and hope that we come out better (if not, the same) in the end. So when it comes to the new year, there are many things that we should look out for to stay on top of the rankings.

1. Quality Content: I say this so often and I cannot overemphasize this enough: Content is KING! Search engine spiders, crawl the net to find what? Content! Your site has information (hopefully) that you want the spiders to see and include in their index. By the creation and publication of quality content, you give the search engines more reason to return. You are feeding them what they want. In 2006, you should be finding creative ways to get your content noticed and viewed as well as finding creative ways to publish fresh content on a regular basis. A very good way this is done is through the use of message boards (hosted on your site) and by blogs (enabling you to publish more frequently).

Asbjorn Lonvig:

Tell a story.
Every time I enter something on the internet, on my own website or another web site like an online gallery I tell a story. Like what Jose Dali said about my fairy tale character Crab-Mac-Claw or Alice Garibaldi's view of my computer drafts of sculptures in Rome.
For search engine optimization and submission to selected search engines I use the software IBP Internet Business Promoter by Axandra, Germany.  For check of meta tags I use the free Meta Tag Analyzer from  Submitexpress.com. This is to ensure 100 % title relevancy to page content, 100 % description relevancy to page content and 100 % keyword relevancy to page content.

Don't focus on your web main page
(index page) - focus on every page,
only 1.56 % of my visitors enter through
the web main page.

__________________

John Wooton:

2. Don't Overextend Your Link Exchange Structure: Backlinks were a popular way to increase your rankings fast in the search engines. The tradition holds: find a PR7 website and trade backlinks and you'll be indexed in Google within 24 hours. That strategy still holds true and is beneficial for new web sites.

But in my opinion the days of tremendous link swapping are coming to an end. Many website have been founded with the purpose of allowing you to exchange links with other web sites. This has caused a massive influx of web masters who want to exchange a ton of links with the hope that it will help them in the search engines.

But what really matters when it comes to links is the amount of quality one way backlinks that direct users to your website. You want the balance of links to be in your favor, that is what leads to success.

Also, there has been talk of search engines taking notice of these "link farms" and penalizing those who take part in them. So if you do take part in link exchanges, please be moderate in respect to the number of exchanges you take part in.

Asbjorn Lonvig:

I do not concentrate upon links any more. I only make links that are relevant to my content. If I am asked to link to a Kangaroo farm in Canberra, New South Wales, Australia, I sure will do it.
Now and then I run a Link Popularity Check on my online galleries to check their degree of presence on the internet. The Link Popularity Check program is free and it is from Axandra, Germany. Absolutearts.com has the highest link popularity of all online galleries.

__________________

John Wooton:

3. RSS and XML: Two new technologies that have begun to take center stage especially in 2005 include a programming language that has been around for several years called XML. XML is short for extensible markup language and is a derivative from HTML. The main difference is your ability to create descriptive tags for your data.

This has led to the advent of RSS or real simple syndication. RSS is a way for you to publish your data to an XML file hosted on your site. Users subscribe to your RSS feed via the XML file and whenever you make a changes to your XML file they are notified. It's become a major technology used by news agencies and bloggers alike as a simple method of publishing your information across a wide variety of platforms.

XML has also proved useful with the Google Site maps program, newly released in 2005. The optional tags available with the XML site map allow you to be descriptive about the individual pages on your site including dates the individual pages were modified. There are some small things you need to pay attention to when creating this: namely you have to follow the Google xml schema, and you have to be diligent about tracking and fixing errors in the code. But if used correctly, it is a great way to help Google index the hidden pages of your website due to javascript or flash.

Asbjorn Lonvig:

I have made an RSS to all main pages on my web site and an RSS to every online gallery.
I use the FeedForAll RSS feed creation tool to built my own RSSs. This way I have built 73 "hand made" RSSs.
I use the following blogging systems for posting a lot of news and for automatic building of RSSs, ATOM feeds and RDFs: Blogger.com, Blogger.dk, Blog.com, Bloglines.com, Spaces.msn.com, Squarespace.com, Angelfire.com and Artday.org.
Artday.org is Japanese. It is from Tokyo. And so is the image to the left. It's the Tokyo skyline with Tokyo Tower. The title is "Tokyo Moonlight".

All of the above RSSs, ATOM feeds and RDFs - both my own "hand made" RSSs and the RSSs, ATOM feeds and RDFs generated automatically by blogging systems - are submitted to selected directories and search engines with the software RSS FEEDS Submit from rssfeedssubmit.com - if you need an introduction to RSS news feeds, you'll find it on rssfeedssubmit.com.

I have built one site map in English and one in Danish.

___________________


John Wooton:

4. Stay away from Flash and Javascript for the time being: Flash and Javascript are very powerful tools for creating dynamic and eye catching web sites. The most prominent problem with the two technologies is that the spiders can't index through them (at least not yet). This limits your ability to have the search engines index portions of your site. Many have speculated that the Big 3 are working on solving this problem, but for the time being, avoid or limit your use of these technologies.

5. Avoid Unethical SEO: There are a lot of programs out there that help you to achieve maximum link back ratios in a very short amount of time. Some of them are good; some are bad. In fact, some of them will waste your effort trying to post trivial comments on blogs or trying to maximize your link exchanges. In my opinion, you should seek success in SEM the right, ethical way. Seek out honest web companies to exchange a moderate amount of links with. Post only relevant comments to forums and blogs because that behavior leads to lasting link backs. Also, don't try to manipulate your website to make it appear to have a higher PR than you really do. Google sees that one!

Asbjorn Lonvig:

I  stay away from Flash and.....
I stay away from unethical SEO.

_____________________

John Wooton:

6. Last, but not least, Articles: There is a little bit of controversial talk about whether it is right to post articles for free use in directories. In my opinion, you are providing a well needed service to web masters and I don't see this one as a potential loss for 2006. Information is valuable. And web sites that need content (especially fresh content) desire what you do to make their efforts a success. So it is natural for your web site rankings to benefit through backlinks from those articles. It's a win win situation.

One other thought on this subject. Right now, the search engines can punish web sites for having duplicate content, and that is an argument that many will propose. But, the search engines will usually only punish you if the html format of a web site is similar, not a couple of articles. So posting articles is safe for now.

But be cautious. Many lucrative methods of ethical SEO can be turned into a problem when too many people attempt to abuse the technology.

So that's it. Short, but informative. SEO is both an art and a technology that we have to use correctly for the right type of success. Who knows what the year ahead may bring, but playing your cards right, you can achieve success and avoid any pitfalls that may come.

Asbjorn Lonvig:

This Art News Artblog article is an example of Articles.
I write articles to as you know WWAR/Absolutearts, to Editorial Qroquis - a printed art magazine in Buenos Aires (translated into Spanish) and ADN World ArtNews in Tokyo. Furthermore my articles are published on selected RSSes of my own, on all the blogging systems mentioned above and on the online gallery ArtCad.com in Paris.

To keep track of the effect of my efforts to have a relatively good internet presence I use a server based statistic system on my web hotel called InSite.
I use Google Alerts to continuously inform me what new things of mine have been indexed.
Occasionally I check presence on Yahoo.com.
And then I check the online galleries.
January 2006 WWAR/Absolutearts topped with 73,000 hits followed by ArtWanted in Salt Lake City with 21,000 hits.  Other online galleries like Yessy.com in Denver Colorado had 17,000 hits and a new online galley in Paris - ArtPourTous - had reached 4000 visitors. "Grand Maitre" to the right - that is Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - is of course exhibited in Paris.
I'm working hard to produce decent traffic on all online galleries. 

__________________

Asbjorn Lonvig:

Thoughts.
Your sales has nothing to do with your artistic talent, with your exhibition at Chicago Athenaeum or with nice words written about your art in a French book on "How to communicate through pictures".
It's all about your internet presence???

Thanks.
I want to thank John Wooton Author and Creator, The SEO Journal Blog for  permitting me to use his article "Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006", which I read 5 January 2006 in Entireweb Newsletter. 

Questions.
Ask all the questions you like.


  COPYRIGHT ASBJORN LONVIGsee Asbjorn Lonvig'sCopyright - Business Concept - Disclaimer

Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006 - Art News Artblog by Asbjorn Lonvig.

The article "Matisse and Louisiana..." by Asbjorn Lonvig published in Spanish

   Descargue este artículo en el formato TABLOID para imprimir                          

Qué es Croquis
Croquis es una empresa orientada a las artes visuales, diversificando su actividad a través de la Editorial, Galeria  de Arte, Eventos, Exposiciones y Producción de Espectáculos.
 
Redacción:
Castelli 941 "4"
Ramos Majla (1704)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
info@editorialcroquis.com.ar

Matisse y Louisiana...
por Asbjorn Lonvig
Traducción al español: Editorial Croquis

Usted seguro conoce a Henri Matisse.  
Y usted seguro conoce a Louisiana. 
Pero no es esa Louisiana de la que yo voy a hablar. 
En Dinamarca hay que un museo de arte llamado Louisiana. 
El Museo de Arte Moderno de Louisiana. 

El Centro Cultural Chicago
Hace algunos años yo estaba promoviendo mis obras en Chicago. 
Visité el Centro Cultural de Chicago y hablé con la directora.  
Ella era una mujer grande, afro-americano de unos cincuenta años aproximadamente. 
Recuerdo que ella amó mis motivos (obras) de París. 
Le dije, que era de Dinamarca. 
-¡Ohhhh Yeaaaah! ¡Louisiana! 
Y ella se respaldó en su sillón y entró en un estado de ensoñación. 
Ella me dijo que era el mejor museo de arte moderno en Europa. 
Me comentó sobre la interacción entre el museo de arte y la naturaleza. 
Me dijo sobre la gran vista del museo y que se pone en el borde del sonido entre Dinamarca y Suecia. 
Ella me dijo sobre la habilidad de Louisiana para mostrar el gran arte. 
Me dijo sobre la habilidad de Louisiana para mostrar a los grandes artistas. 
Ella me dijo sobre la habilidad de Louisiana de  comunicar
este gran arte a los visitantes. 
Un museo de arte que ella quiso ver de nuevo ciertamente. 
Y yo frecuentemente visito Louisiana. 
Exactamente por las mismas razones de mi amiga
afroamericana.

El mapa de Lousiana y fotografías 
Usted tiene que ir a experimentar la atmósfera allí. 
La naturaleza y el arte. 
Arte y naturaleza. 
Pero las fotografías podrían darle una indirecta
de lo que mi amiga en Chicago quiso decir.









Vea sobre la Arquitectura de Louisiana y la Colección de Louisiana en el sitio web: www.louisana.dk  

Matisse - una segunda vida
Louisiana y Museé de Luxemburgo en París se han unido en
una aventura. 
Un día el curador dinamarqués, Hanne Finsen especialista en Matisse, le pidió una taza de café  al director de Louisiana.  
Después el director le ofreció numerosas tazas de café a Hanne Finsen. 
Al director le gustó saber más sobre su idea. 
El director es el Poul Erik Tojner.

La idea 
Para hacer una exhibición basada en una correspondencia renovada, mientras empezaba la primavera de 1941, entre Matisse y su viejo amigo, el bibliófilo André Rouveyre; a quiensólo había visto ocasionalmente desde sus días en la prestigiosa École des Beaux-artes en París, o como se llama hoy Ècole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-artes.

La exhibición tenía que cubrir  la vida de Henri Matisse, él se murió el 3 de noviembre de 1954 en Niza. 
Las cartas ultrajan una amistad profunda entre Matisse y Rouveyre quién amaba y admiraba a Matisse. 
Matisse por su parte no necesitó a otro público mas que Rouveyre. 
Desde el punto de vista de los visitantes es interesante que las cartas ultrajen los pensamientos de Matisse porque inspiraron cada obra realizada en ése período.

La exhibición 
El 11 de agosto de 2005 yo vi esta exhibición. 
Usted tiene que ir a experimentar la atmósfera allí. 
Matisse y Louisiana. 
Louisiana y Matisse. 
Las fotografías podrían darle una idea de lo que yo quiero decir.
 






Usted nunca debe sacar fotografía en un museo de arte. 
Usted nunca debe usar el flash de su cámara. 
Hoy, sin embargo, yo tenía permiso para sacar fotografías y usar flash. 
Yo no lo podía creer.   
Para asegurar que no era ningún error,  simplemente encendí la cámara delante del director y delante del curador.... ningúna censura en la mirada.... era obviamente OK! 


Los pensamientos 
Siempre es un gran placer para mí ir al Museo de Louisiana de Art Moderno. 
Recientemente yo vi a Roy Liechtenstein y disfruté mucho. 
Y no tan hace tiempo yo vi a Warhol y no lo disfruté. No debido a la propia exhibición, 
pero siento que yo he visto todo los trabajos antes. Normalmente yo disfruto al ver los originales de trabajos, que he visto en los libros, en los papeles etc.  
Pero a mí los trabajos de Warhol han perdido su magia.  
Entonces.  Ayer yo vi a Matisse. Una experiencia de un tiempo de vida. 
Lo que me golpeó era sus pensamientos, para hacer las cosas simple. Para hacer las cosas colores luminosos. 
Le tomó una vida para lograr eso. 
Quizá él tuvo éxito a su edad alta, su segunda vida era de los 82 al 95. 
Quizá él tuvo éxito debido a su actitud de vida. 
Yo he leído que "Las cartas de Matisse y nos proporcionan la única visión en el proceso creativo del artista y sus pensamientos en su vida y trabajo."   
La narración es muy buena.   
El la mayor visión en el proceso creativo de un artista yo tengo. 
Pero. 
¡Yo tengo que leer el libro "Matisse - una segunda vida" - la letra en francés no es muy fácil comprender!!!!! 
¡Agradézco a Heni Matisse!!!! 

Las fotografías: 
 - de www.louisiana.dk, página principal y la arquitectura - el permiso por Susanne Hartz, Louisiana. 
La fotografía de la exhibición - por Asbjorn Lonvig.   
La fotografía del libro "Matisse - una segunda vida" - por Asbjorn Lonvig 
Matisse empapelan los corte-exteriores, pinturas, los dibujos de las cartas,
etc. la Sucesión de © H. Matisse / CopyDan, 2005 - aclaró con CopyDan

Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig
Noticias Del Arte - Blog Del Arte: Matisse y Louisiana... por Asbjorn Lonvig

New article "Matisse and Louisiana..." by Danish writer Asbjorn Lonvig

[Previous entry: "Art and Human Nature Collection"] [Next entry: "Art World Economics Part Three"]

You sure know Henri Matisse.
And you sure know Louisiana.
But it is not that Louisiana I think of.
In Denmark there is an art museum called Louisiana.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

Chicago Cultural Center
Some years ago I was promoting my stuff in Chicago.
I visited the Chicago Cultural Center and talked to the director.
She was a size large wonderful African-American, age fifty I guess.
I remember she loved my Paris motifs.
I told her, that I was from Denmark.
Ohhhh Yeaaaah! Louisiana!
And she leaned back and entered a state of dreaming.
She told me that it was the best museum of modern art in Europe.
She told me about the interaction between the art museum and nature.
She told me about the great view from the museum, which is placed on the brink of the sound between Denmark and Sweden.
She told me about Louisiana's ability to show great art.
She told me about Louisiana's ability to show great artists.
She told me about Louisiana's ability to communicate this great art to the visitors.
An art museum that she surely wanted to see again.

And I visit Louisiana myself frequently.
For exactly the same reasons as my African-American friend.

Lousiana map and photos
You have to go there to experience the atmosphere.
Nature and art.
Art and nature.
But the photos might give you a hint of what my friend in Chicago meant.

See about the Louisiana Architecture and the Louisiana Collection at the Louisiana web site.

Matisse - a second lifeLouisiana and Muse? de Luxembourg in Paris have made a joined venture.
One day the Danish curator and Matisse expert Hanne Finsen asked the director of Louisiana for a cup of coffee.
Later the director offered Hanne Finsen numerous cups of coffee.
The director liked to know more about her idea.
The director is Poul Erik Tojner.

The idea
To make an exhibition based on a renewed correspondence, starting the spring 1941, between Matisse and his old friend, the knowledgeable bibliophile Andr? Rouveyre, whom he had seen only occasionally since their days at the prestigious ?cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris or as it is called today ?cole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts.
The exhibition had to cover the rest of Henri Matisse's life, he died 3 November 1954 in Nice.
The letters reviles a profound friendship between Matisse and Rouveyre, who loved and admired Matisse.
Matisse for his part needed no other audience than Rouveyre.
From a visitors point of view it is interesting that the letters at the same time reviles Matisse's thoughts and inspiration behind each piece made in this period of time.

The exhibition
11 August 2005 I saw this exhibition.
You have to go there to experience the atmosphere.
Matisse and Louisiana.
Louisiana and Matisse.
But the photos might give you a hint of what I mean.

The light was nearly turned off.
Because of the paper cut-outs.
Works in paper cut-out technique fades.

You must never photo in an art museum.
You must never, never use flash.
Today, however, I had the permission to photo and use flash.
I did not believe it.
What a scoop.
To ensure that it was no mistake I flashed just in front of the director
and then in front of the curator....no conservators in sight....it obviously was OK!

And.
I have put all the Matisse paper cut-out flash photos into my treasure chest.
Take a look into my treasure chest above.
Because of the missing light I had to photo with a "scene" feature.
Most of the paper cut-outs and paintings were framed with glass.
That's why the photos are not front photos.
In order to clear my photos concerning intellectual rights with the ? Succession H. Matisse foundation I contacted Copy-Dan, who administers these matters in Denmark together with sister organisations in other countries.
Most of my photos have to stay in my treasure chest.
I might have bought intellectual rights for several thousand dollars - you have to wait and see my photos next time you visit me. I have bought rights to my atmosphere photos - they are shown above. I am alowed to show them for one year - please, help me remember to update this article in one year!!!
I can, however, show you the best of the official press photos.

WWAR Art News coverage
On 12 August 2005 WWAR Art News run the article "Matisse: A Second Life", which covers the story perfectly.
So.
I need not tell you about the details.
I need to tell you what this exhibition meant to me.

Thoughts
It's always a great pleasure for me to go to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Recently I saw Roy Liechtenstein, which I enjoyed very much.
And not so long ago I saw Warhol, which I did not enjoy. Not because of the exhibition itself,
but I feel I have seen all the works before. Usually I enjoy to se the originals of works I have seen in books, in papers etc.
But to me Warhol's works have lost their magic.
Warhol loved Warhol more than I do.
Then.
Yesterday I saw Matisse. An experience of a life time.
What struck me was his thoughts concerning to do things simple. To do things in bright colors.
It took him a lifetime to do it right.
Maybe he succeeded because of his high age, his second life was from age 82 to age 95.
Maybe he succeeded because of his attitude of life.

I have read that "The letters, which are typified by intimacy and irresistible humor, speak of both the events of everyday life and Matisse?s work and thus provide us with unique insight into the artist?s creative process and his thoughts on his life and work".
It's very good storytelling.
The more insight into an artist's creative process I have - the greater is my joy.
But.
I have to read the book "Matisse - a second life" - handwriting in French is not very easy to comprehend!!!!!

One thing more.
Paper-cut.
I myself use paper-cut very much, which I have not been very proud of. Real art is oil painting - I thought.
But seeing Matisse use paper-cut in his second life has encouraged med enormously.
Thank you Heni Matisse!!!!

Photos:
Map of Louisiana and small photos of Louisiana - from www.louisiana.dk, main page and the architecture - permission by Susanne Hartz, Louisiana.
Photo of the exhibition atmosphere - by Asbjorn Lonvig.
Photo of the book "Matisse - a second life" - by Asbjorn Lonvig
Matisse paper cut-outs, paintings, drawings, letters etc. ? Succession H. Matisse / CopyDan, 2005 - cleared with CopyDan.

Replies: 6 Comments

on Monday, September 5th, Linda Lane said

http://www.wonderlane.com/projectheart.html

Calling Designers and Artists

Create Heart Art to Donate to raise funds
for Hurricane Katrina Victims Relief

Donate Art to Raise Funds for Hurricane Victims Relief at ProjectHeART@hotmail.com
Deadline Sept 16, 2005

Grab a pen, a pencil or your brush, and help the victims of Hurricane Katrina!

Charity is about money, if you are an artist pick up a pen and lend your talent.

Project HeART is asking artists from tattooists to painters to pick up a 4?x6? index card and give heART!

Design a realistic heart, paint a sacred heart, sketch a traditional heart- whatever your style may be, combine your amazing talent with that of other great artists to help the victims of Katrina who have lost everything.

We are gathering works of art into one large piece for a charity auction on eBay, with all profits going to Habitat for Humanity.

Don't have an index card? Or prefer working on another material? Any 4?x 6? paper will do! Your contribution is more appreciated than you will know!

Include your name, website, company, or other information you want attached to your work. Also send your email address to be made aware of the upcoming auction!

Spread the word and send your submissions by September 16, 2005 to:

Project HeART
c/o Brandon
1885 California Ave.
Corona, CA 92881
www.myspace.com/projectheart

Let us know you're participating! Email ProjectHeART@hotmail.com for more information or to sign up!

on Monday, September 5th, Asbjorn Lonvig said

My unreserved apology to all American Blacks. Brad has been so kind to explain to me the difference between Afro-American and African-American. I have udpated the blog "Matisse and Louisiana...".

on Tuesday, August 30th, jose said

Asbjorn, as always, i enjoyed your blog very much. This one was particularly uplifting.

Gabriella, It was refreshing to read your response to this blog. You point out certain important aspects that I feel sometimes have been forgotten or set aside out of embarrassment. Art IS religion. The artist is striving to understand his place in this web of confusion that keeps him in a state of separateness and showing us through his work his attempts at making sense of it all and becoming ONE [regardless of whatever belief system he may embrace]. It is therefore not surprising that we sometimes experience this feeling of communion you mention when faced with a work of Art, especially if care has been taken to dignify it with adequate presentation.

on Monday, August 29th, Asbjorn said

to RT,
Sorry for the mistake.
I do not know the difference between African-American and Afro-American.
Please explain?
Don't withhold any comments....

on Monday, August 29th, Hyacinthe Baron said

Hi Asbjorn.

Thank you for taking the time to share. Yes, Art and Nature, Art and Human Nature, these are the important things to bear in mind in these times in relation to art processes and thoughts.

I lived in Gothenberg and travelled widely to other countries so I am aware of the wonderful views you have taken such pains to describe.

As to the cutouts...when they were shown at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC I recall they were not well received by the art critics who did not appreciate the childlike artistic regression of an old man in his cups as they say. The magic is in the name of course.

Similar thing occured with Wilhelm DeKooning when his agent and galleries tried to exhibit the works he produced after he contracted Alzeheimers. Everyone in the art world was so hoping the value both monetary and experiential would be worth a great deal. Art Critics had no appreciation for the new works and lamented the loss of such a great technique master. But then DeKooning always had a tendency for erratic behaviour, which fortunately for him paid off. I have written several short stories about my meetings with DeKooning and with Pollack and the drunkenness that led them to let go and produce their greatest works.

How all this relates to living artists today and what is the message really?

The kind of letting go you describe is scary...primitives tether celebrants for fear they will let go and be unable to be brought back...in the case of old revered artists that is no longer a problem...in the matter of young artists it can be a danger.

The road to madness is often disguised...artists need to distinguish and to discipline to reach maximum creative potential.

Admiration and reverence...yes, very much like religious experience. It pleases me that you have so much enjoyment.

on Monday, August 29th, Gabriella Morrison said

Asbjorn;

Those are some great photos of the Museum Louisiana you have made, both interior and exterior. Viewing these photos made me think on an idea I have held that Galleries and Museums have become places that function today as did churches in the past. They hold images and objects which bear meaning and belief for us. The stories these images and beliefs contain and elucidate reveal to us what in our time we hold most important and sacred. The enlarged photos in the Luisiana, which appear to have shown Matisse in various settings seem to function much the same as illustrations of saints' lives in the poliptych panels that can be seen in European churches and Museums.The paper-cuts of Matisse had to have been fantastic to see, even in a necessarily lower light gallery space. I was fortunate to see some of the papercuts in 1966 in Paris and and they caused in me a reaction of freedom from care and the wanting to dance, move with a cadenced ease and of wanting to hold on to such idyllic feelings for the rest of my life. It was a communion of sorts, and this happened in an Art Museum. And of course the "sermon" was illustrated on the walls, in a spare, clean and hush interior. There is not much difference in my mind between what I experienced there from what an semi-literate townswoman may have experienced in the Scrovegni Chapel in the 15th Century, AD.