An anonymous e-mail exchange, used with permission:
DA: Seems like you used to blog about art a whole lot more than you do now…settling into a UP frame of mind, eh? Life on the prairie has been known to drain enthusiasm; consult Wisconsin Death Trip for details…
ME: Well I guess I could post all of the writing I’ve been doing for these two grants I’m working on? One for Beyond Green and the other about the conservation needs of the museum’s collection? Or maybe post my edits to my thesis for this journal I’ve been struggling with? booooorrrrinnnggg!
Really though I think it’s the NYT’s fault…that’s been my link to the outside world since our road trip six weeks ago. Cy Twombly is about the best they could come up with lately and his work makes me feel empty. I started to blog about the Oasis show but decided it wasn’t worth me spinning my wheels anymore and someone from the Oasis might actually read it someday.
But, the good news is that I get to go to Chicago next week on the Social Aspects trip, and will be making the museum rounds. And I’ll have a good 20 hours on a bus to write while blocking out the plans of about 60 twenty year olds.
DA: It’s more of an “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” situation! That’ll happen in the UP as well…
ME: Mmmm more like if you can’t say something interesting, don’t say anything at all! And yes, perhaps that is a downfall of the UP as well…what’s a U.P. art museum director to do?
DA: I usually just end up saying something anyway–never mind if it’s interesting or nice!
ME: Can I blog this e-mail exchange we’ve had this morning?!?!? You would be kept anonymous, of course. As would I.
DA: I don’t know if you’re serious or not, but just in case you are: go ahead.
