Richard Pousette-Dart Symposium at the Whitney-Artist Chritopher Wool a former Student Spoke

Supposing you wanted to learn more artist Richard Poousette-Dart's (P-D) life & work, a symposium at the Whitney might present an erudite & enlightening evening.  Featured speaks for the centential celebration of the great painter, sculpture & photographer included artist & former student, Christopher Wool, Whitney Dir Adam Weinberg, former stuido assistant & poet Patti Trimble, British curator Dr Jennifer Powell and art historian & critic Barbara Rose.  I will depose Rose, the 1st speaker.  It took a hook to get her off the stage.  Her rambling insights were few & some I felt untrue.  P-D did incorporate many religious symbols & motifs contrary to her stating otherwise.   Rose categorized P-D contemporaries as alcoholics & felt the issue needed addressing.  I felt she was out or order.  Patti Trimble bantered about their working relationship at his studio in Nyack where she claimed not to have been productive.  Trimble testified to P-D's delight with poetry.  A letter produced by Dr Powell written by a young P-D to his mother was poetic in his prose & spoke of the astonishment he found in the beauty of nature surrounding him which he equated to God.  Artist Christopher Wool, a young student of P-D was ill at ease at the podium.  Perhaps, as an artist, his work speaks best for him.  I was intrigued why P-D discouraged him from an artistic career?  Wool attested to his determination to pursue the arts & perhaps that was what P-D was assessing.  I enjoyed learning about his work in photography, sculpture & metal cuttings.  His photographic works were quite arresting and surprising.  I was disappointed the Whitney was not exhibiting P-D's work.  Weinberg was abject in his deference to P-D's widow, Evelyn who was prsesent.  His repeated suggestion to bring P-D's studio to the museum kept falling on flat ears.  (Bring in his work.)   The mostly erudite lecturing became tedious.  The personal anecdotes were more enticing.  After the 100 year anniversary tribute droned on for 3 hours, it's nice to learn more about his art, teaching, legacy & dedication.  Still, after more reflection, I won't be attending an art symposium anytime soon.