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