Wednesday 4 December 2019

abecedarium

Though not wholly representative of the reception on the part of peers and the public, the 1913 show at New York City’s Armory which exposed American audiences to the staples of European Modernism for the first time engendered mixed reactions, including the cumulative accession that progresses alphabetically through this new exposure.
The confusion and anger of some was distilled in a regressive-progressive volume, acrostic from Mary Mills and Earl Harvey Lyall that aired its discontent for Cubism and Futurism by the letter.

Q’s for the Queerness we Stand-patters feel
When progressive young Cubies start Art reformation.
They’re strong on Initiative, praise the Square Deal:
“Though the Cubic is best” they aggressively squeal:
“Painting things as you see them is rank deformation!”