Mary Boone

January 1, 2001

Dear Mary,

I can't imagine that you'd remember me, but about 10 years ago I approached you in your West Broadway location. I had brought a few small paintings with me but you refused to look at them. I was somewhat hesitant to take no for an answer, and you got pissed saying that even if you liked my work, your time was fully committed to the artists you already represent.

Fair enough; but then your stable has changed a lot since that time. How does one get 10 minutes for future consideration?

If you please:

Among other qualities, important art always reflects its time in history.

Tech stocks are not doing so well. Investors are beginning to question whether concepts as business opportunities are enough. Bricks and mortar are beginning to replace dot and com as the more popular catch words in everyday conversation.

Though we as a society have become incredibly sophisticated, sometimes I think that all that has really changed is the direction of our prejudice. In the last hundred years the pendulum has simply swung to the opposite extreme, and that is also exhausting its purpose and momentum.

The next thing, the more enduring trend will be that which recognizes there is potential value in all forms of expression.

If in our open-mindedness we want to recognize photos of Barbie as being new, relevant and important; then we should also be open-minded enough to recognize there is plenty of new artistic territory to be explored by someone who is mostly interested in light, color and oil paint. Sophistication can be found everywhere. It doesn't have to be so loud it screams.

Don't think new ism. Think Vuillard or Bonnard. If nothing else, my paintings in your space would be an incredibly fresh and bold move on your part; and those are the qualities in you which most appeal to me.

Bricks and mortar,

Tim Folzenlogen