Putting It Together

I thought that went very well, except for the electrical screw up
What did you guys think?
Oh, 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)
But 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? (Don't you think he's original?)
I wasn't talking turns (Well, yes)
I'm talking art (You're talking crap)
But is it really new? (Well, no)
(It's more than novelty) It's own collaborator
It's all promotion - and

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
Any way you look at it!

Alright, 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 sculpture

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've 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 going to bring the lomochrome
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 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're 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 up business 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 gonna 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 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 gonna give 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
going to use. I computed 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 going to wait- no I'll wait
What?
I'm quitting
Quitting?
I'm going back to NASA.
There's just too much pressure in this line of work.
Dennis, don't make any rash decisions;
just take it easy, sleep on it. We'll talk about it tomorrow
Okay, George

Art isn't easy
(Hey, it's the brain!)
Even when you're smart
(Little electrical screw up tonight, Dennis?)
You think it's all together
Then something falls apart

I love the new machine, George
Oh, thank you, that means a lot to me
We saw you talking to Redman from Texas
Yeah
Did you get one of the commissions?
We talked about it, you guys?
Her. My stuff is a little too inaccessible
Oh, I love your work, Alex. I'll put in a good word for you
He knows my work
Well, it's all politics, Alex.
Maybe, if you'd just lighten 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 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'll 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 Neoexpressionism
Good for you. Now,
I had no idea you might be related to 19th century France
Well, it's a cloudy ancestral line at best
I'm dying to meet your grandmother.
It was fun seeing the two of you on stage with your
invention. It added a certain, humanity to the proceedings
Humanity?
George, Chromolume number 7?

Be nice, George
(I was hoping it would be a series of 3 or 4, 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 onto 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 a 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
(I like those images)
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 if making art
(That is the state of 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