Putting It Together

I thought that went very well

except for the electrical screw-up.

What did you guys think?

Ugh, terrible/Terrific.

I mean, I don't understand completely

I'm not surprised

But he combines all these different trends

I'm not surprised

You can't divide art today

Into categories neatly

Oh?

What matters is the means, not the ends

I'm not surprised

That is the state of the art, my dear

That is the state of the art

It's not enough knowing good from rotten

You're telling me

When something new pops up every day

You're telling me

It's only new, though, for now

Nouveau

But yesterday's forgotten

And tomorrow is already passé

There's no surprise

That is the state of the art, my friend

That is the state of the art

He's an original

Was.

I like the images

Some.

Come on

You had your moment

Now it's George's turn

It's George's turn?

I wasn't talking turns / Don't you think he's original?

I'm talking art / Well, yes...

But is it really new? / You're talking crap

Well, no...

His own collaborator! / It's more than novelty

Well, yes...

It's all promotion, but then–/ It's just impersonal, but–

That is the state of the art

Isn't it?

Well...

Art isn't easy

Even when you've amassed it

Fighting for prizes

No one can be an oracle

Art isn't easy

Suddenly

You're past it

All compromises

And then when it's allegorical

Art isn't easy

Art isn't easy

Art isn't easy

Any way you look at it

George!

All right, George

As long as it's your night, George

You know what's in the room, George

Another Chromolume, George

It's time to get to work

George, look at all these lovely people in front of our painting.

George, come say hello to one of our board members.

This is Harriet Pawling.

What a pleasure.

And this is my friend, Billy Webster.

What heading does your work fall under?

Most people think of it as sculpture.

So unconventional for a sculpture.

Oh.

Say cheese, George

And put them at their ease, George

You're up on the trapeze, George

Machines don't grow on trees, George

Start putting it together

I bet your great-grandfather would be very proud!

Yes, he would have loved this evening.

George and I are going back to France next month

to visit the island where the painting was made

and George is gonna bring the Lomochrome.

Oh, huh... Chromolume.

Art isn't easy

Even when you're hot

Are these inventions of yours one of a kind?

Advancing art is easy

Yes.

Financing it is not

They take a year to make.

A vision's just a vision

If it's only in your head

The minute he finishes one

he starts raising money for the next.

If no one gets to see it

It's as good as dead

Work, work, work.

It has to come to light

I put the names of my contributors on the side of each machine.

Some very impressive people.

Well, my family has a foundation

and we are always looking for new projects.

Bit by bit

Putting it together

Piece by piece

Only way to make a work of art

Every moment makes a contribution

Every little detail plays a part

Having just a vision's no solution

Everything depends on execution

Putting it together

That's what counts

Actually, the board of the foundation is meeting next week.

Ounce by ounce

Putting it together

You'll come to lunch.

Small amounts

Adding up to make a work of art

First of all, you need a good foundation

Otherwise it's risky from the start

Takes a little cocktail conversation

But without the proper preparation

Having just a vision's no solution

Everything depends on execution

The art of making art

Is putting it together

Bit by bit

We haven't met. Charles Redmond. County Museum of Texas.

Nice to meet you.

I don't mean to bring business up during a social occasion

but I wanted you to know we're in the process of giving out some very sizable commissions...

Link by link

Making the connections

Drink by drink

Fixing and perfecting the design

Adding just a dab of politician

Always knowing where to draw the line

Lining up a prominent commission

Otherwise your perfect composition

Isn't going to get much exhibition

Art isn't easy

Every minor detail

Is a major decision

Have to keep things in scale

Have to hold to your vision

Every time I start to feel defensive

I remember lasers are expensive

What's a little cocktail conversation

If it's going to get you your foundation

Leading to a prominent commission

And an exhibition in addition?

Art isn't easy

Trying to make connections

Who understands it?

Difficult to evaluate

Art isn't easy

Trying to form collections

Always in transit

And then when you have to collaborate

Art isn't easy

Any way you look at it

George, you have to meet Mr. Randolph!

Lee Randolph.

I handle public relations for the museum.

How do you do.

There's a lot of opportunity for some nice press here...

Dot by dot

Building up the image

Shot by shot

Keeping at a distance doesn't pay

Still, if you remember your objective

Not give all your privacy away

A little bit of hype can be effective

Long as you can keep it in perspective

After all, without some recognition

No one's going to give you a commission

Which will cause a crack in the foundation

You'll have wasted all that conversation

I am really sorry, George.

I spoke with Naomi in great detail about how much electricity her synthesizer was gonna use.

I computed the exact voltage–

Dennis, it's okay.

Now go get yourself a drink, Dennis. Mingle.

George, I have one more thing I wanted to talk to you about.

I was gonna wait– no, I'll wait

What?

I'm quitting.

Quitting?

I'm going back to NASA.

There is just too much pressure in this line of work.

Dennis, don't make any rash decisions.

Just take it easy, sleep on it, and we'll talk about it tomorrow.

Okay, George.

Art isn't easy

Hey, it's the brains.

Even when you're smart

Little technical screw-up tonight, Dennis?

You think it's all together

And something falls apart

I love the new machine, George.

Oh, thank you. That means a lot to me.

We saw you talking to Redmond from Texas.

Yeah.

Did you get one of the commisions?

We talked about it. You guys?

Her. My stuff is a little too inaccessible.

Oh, I love you work, Alex. I'll put in a good word for you.

He knows my work!

Well, it's all politics, Alex.

Maybe if you just lightened up a little.

Texas would be fun!

Art isn't easy

Overnight you're a trend

You're the right combination

Then the trend's at an end

You're suddenly last year's sensation

So you should support the competition

Try to set aside your own ambition

Even while you jockey for position

If you feel a sense of coalition

Then you never really stand alone

If you want your work to reach fruition

What you need's a link with your tradition

And of course a prominent commission

Plus a little formal recognition

So that you can go on exhibit

So that your work can go on exhibition

There's the man of the hour!

Blair. Hello. I read your piece on neo-expressionism.

Good for you!

Now, I had no idea you might be related to 19th century France.

Well, it's a cloudy ancentral line at best.

I'm dying to meet your grandmother.

It was fun seeing the two of you onstage with your invention.

It added a certain humanity to the proceedings.

Humanity?

George. Chromolume #7?

Be nice, George

I was hoping it would be a series of three.

Four at the most.

You have to pay a price, George

I have touted your work from the beginning, you know that.

They like to give advice, George

You were really on to something with these light machines– once.

Don't think about it twice, George

Now they're just becoming more and more about less and less.

I disagree.

Don't get me wrong.

You're a talented guy.

But there are new discoveries to be made, George.

Be new, George

They'll tell you 'til they're blue, George

You're new or else you're through, George

And even if it's true, George

You do what you can do

Bit by bit

Putting it together

Piece by piece

Working out the vision night and day

All it takes is time and perseverance

With a little luck along the way

Putting in a personal appearance

Gathering supporters and adherents

But he combines all these different trends

Mapping out the right configuration

Starting with a suitable foundation

He's an original

Was...

Lining up a prominent commission

And an exhibition in addition

Here a little dab of politician

There a little touch of publication

'Til you have a balanced composition

Everything depends on preparation

Even if you do have the suspicion

That it's taking all your concentration

The art of making art

That is the state of the art

Is putting it together

And art isn't easy

Bit by bit

Link by link

Drink by drink

Mink by mink

And that

Is the state

Of the art