re: #213 Occasional Reader

That last bit is an important qualifier, of course. Because they usually ARE in favor of “artists” beign lavishly paid for (e.g.) covering religious icons with excrement… by the taxpayers.

Great point OR. Here’s a thought - IIRC most of the greatest painters of the Renaissance had patrons (e.g. private investors who thought the artist was worth underwriting). Of course, most of the time, the patron ended up as a figure in the work - like a merchant being depicted as one of the Magi or something.

Hmmm… maybe we could convince Rosie O’Donnell to become a patron of Robert Mapplethorpe.