Variations of Failure: HBO’s New Documentary on Painter Chuck Connelly

by Art Fag City on July 7, 2008 · 69 comments Reviews

connelly2.jpg
Chuck Connelly. Image courtesy of HBO

As if a continuation of the film The Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly Not For Sale, a documentary (premiering tonight at 9 on HBO) about an artist whose deep personality problems and alcoholism eventually caused his exile from the art world, my colleague ran into the subject in the men’s room after the film’s recent preview in Tribeca. “This is going to sound strange, but I like your work a lot,” he told Connelly. “That’s not strange,” the artist replied, a light arrogant tone permeating his slurred words. “Well, it is when you consider I’m telling you this at a urinal.”

Somehow this seems like exactly the kind of interaction Chuck Connelly is accustomed to: a long string of mildly amusing and uncomfortable drunken exchanges about art which together make up the bulk of his experience — or at least the documentary. “[It’s about] a working-class outsider who is fighting ageism, elitism, and cronyism” says director Jeff Stimmel, glossing over his depiction of Connelly’s anger issues and alcohol abuse in exchange for the age old crowd pleaser underdog versus elite establishment. The use of such art world stereotypes as a promotional ploy will feel strikingly familiar to those who in 2006 saw Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock?, a film marketed on the unsubstantiated premise that art-world elitism held up the evaluation of a painting many others believe to be a Pollock.

“Everything I do is fucked because I have negative energy????” the artist violently screams at his wife after his painting sells for a paltry $500 online. Setting the tone for the documentary, he then launches into a tirade consisting primarily of expletives. Art professionals, including dealer Annina Nosei, Artnet editor Walter Robinson and artist Mark Kostabi, attest to Connelly’s difficult personality and stunning ability to emote through paint, even as his alcoholism and verbal abuse ultimately force his collectors, galleries and wife away. Finally, in an act of desperation, he embarks on a scheme in which he hires a young professional actor to play the role of himself and win back his career.

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t work. The artist shoots himself in the foot even as he attempts to remove himself from dealer interactions, withholding the fact that he no longer owns the paintings he’s asked his surrogate to shop around. When the gallerists visit Connelly’s studio, they are presented with paintings different than those they thought they had come to see.

Chuck Connelly at the National Arts Club press screening.  Photo AFCSuch poor decision-making skills are not traits inherent to artists, though Connelly, perhaps as a means to avoid taking ownership of his surliness, falls back on the myth that they all must suffer for their craft. For the most part, the Tribeca audience rewarded his laziness, finding amusement in virtually any art cliché Connelly uttered on the subject of artist pain. “Dying is the best career move [Warhol] ever made,” he remarks while visiting the star’s grave — the oldest joke in the book, sparking uproarious laughter from nearly everyone around me. Though to be fair, every once in a while the artist would say something genuinely funny — usually again at somebody else’s expense. At no point was he ever illuminating or self-reflective, instead indulging in behavior so abhorrent it is almost impossible to feel any empathy for the man.

Yet scene after scene demonstrating his various personality issues might amount to a more substantive documentary if they didn’t come at the expense of factual details. For example, Connelly’s wife leaves him during the filming of the documentary, but the year is never mentioned, and her motivations barely discussed. Perhaps even more important to the film, early on we’re told the artist stopped showing in 1989, but Connelly himself never discusses why that occurred. The documentary suggests that his disavowal of Martin Scorsese’s Life Lessons, a short film based on his professional practice, was the nail in that coffin, though a single ill-advised comment tanking the career of an artist with whom many dealers and collectors have a vested financial interest seems unlikely at best.

Moreover, Stimmel’s slideshows exhibit only a few of his subject’s unpredictable neo-expressionist works — a dark painting of Santa Claus, for example, with the pun “ho-mo” scrawled across the surface — among countless easy, representational paintings. It makes you wonder why Connelly is the topic of a documentary at all. The artist’s “failure” is never fully defined, though a few brief reprieves from the intense internal rage pervading Connelly’s life provide remarkable context by comparison. Stimmel never capitalizes on the dynamics of Connelly telling his wife she’s beautiful or his drunken, genuine conversations with the actor he works with, though Robinson and Nosei shed some light on how his art-making practice might similarly offer Connelly peace. Such connections could have prevented The Art of Failure from fulfilling the prophecy of its title: a series of excruciating episodes composing an inconsequential look at an artist whose time has come and gone.

This piece was edited by Stu VanAirsdale of the The Reeler and Defamer.

Related: Edward Winkleman, The Art Gallery’s Being Mean to Me.

{ 69 comments }

Neuehaus July 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm

This is great thanks, very excited to see it. I’ll bookmark this over at our place:

http://www.neuehaus.com

Neuehaus July 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm

This is great thanks, very excited to see it. I’ll bookmark this over at our place:

http://www.neuehaus.com

Neuehaus July 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm

This is great thanks, very excited to see it. I’ll bookmark this over at our place:

http://www.neuehaus.com

Neuehaus July 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm

This is great thanks, very excited to see it. I’ll bookmark this over at our place:

http://www.neuehaus.com

Neuehaus July 7, 2008 at 2:55 pm

This is great thanks, very excited to see it. I’ll bookmark this over at our place:

http://www.neuehaus.com

Glyn Vincent July 8, 2008 at 2:31 am

Perhaps a bit less about the artist’s personality and somewhat more about his art, in your review, would have been interesting.

Glyn Vincent July 7, 2008 at 9:31 pm

Perhaps a bit less about the artist’s personality and somewhat more about his art, in your review, would have been interesting.

greg.org July 8, 2008 at 3:02 pm

unlikely, Glyn, since the documentary itself has even less insight into his work than it does into his personality: just that Connelly won’t/can’t sell them for the couple hundred bucks his nonexistent market will bear, and that he has 3,000 of them stuffed in his attic. Then it flashes through a few hundred paintings at stroboscopic speed.

If Connelly wants to just STFU and reject the art world while sticking to his art, that’s fine. It worked for Clifford Still. But unfortunately for him–and for anyone who encounters him, apparently–he wants to be Julian Schnabel.

Makes me wonder who the Chuck Connellys of this generation of careerless careerist artists will turn out to be.

greg.org July 8, 2008 at 3:02 pm

unlikely, Glyn, since the documentary itself has even less insight into his work than it does into his personality: just that Connelly won’t/can’t sell them for the couple hundred bucks his nonexistent market will bear, and that he has 3,000 of them stuffed in his attic. Then it flashes through a few hundred paintings at stroboscopic speed.

If Connelly wants to just STFU and reject the art world while sticking to his art, that’s fine. It worked for Clifford Still. But unfortunately for him–and for anyone who encounters him, apparently–he wants to be Julian Schnabel.

Makes me wonder who the Chuck Connellys of this generation of careerless careerist artists will turn out to be.

greg.org July 8, 2008 at 10:02 am

unlikely, Glyn, since the documentary itself has even less insight into his work than it does into his personality: just that Connelly won’t/can’t sell them for the couple hundred bucks his nonexistent market will bear, and that he has 3,000 of them stuffed in his attic. Then it flashes through a few hundred paintings at stroboscopic speed.

If Connelly wants to just STFU and reject the art world while sticking to his art, that’s fine. It worked for Clifford Still. But unfortunately for him–and for anyone who encounters him, apparently–he wants to be Julian Schnabel.

Makes me wonder who the Chuck Connellys of this generation of careerless careerist artists will turn out to be.

dan July 9, 2008 at 4:46 am

The documentary did leave a lot out. Maybe the artist wouldn’t cooperate? If i had money, i’d
buy his paintings. If Connelly finds society
as hypocritical and self-centered as I do, his
best revenge would be to stop drinking-(meaning live long) and burn all his work, or donate it to an honest charity.

dan July 9, 2008 at 4:46 am

The documentary did leave a lot out. Maybe the artist wouldn’t cooperate? If i had money, i’d
buy his paintings. If Connelly finds society
as hypocritical and self-centered as I do, his
best revenge would be to stop drinking-(meaning live long) and burn all his work, or donate it to an honest charity.

dan July 8, 2008 at 11:46 pm

The documentary did leave a lot out. Maybe the artist wouldn’t cooperate? If i had money, i’d
buy his paintings. If Connelly finds society
as hypocritical and self-centered as I do, his
best revenge would be to stop drinking-(meaning live long) and burn all his work, or donate it to an honest charity.

Brian Sherwin Myartspace Blog July 18, 2008 at 10:16 am

I noticed that as well. If he has 3,000 stuffed away they should have included all of them during that. There was just over a hundred shown… if that.

Kinda reminds me of an art student who claims to have more work done, but never seems to bring it in for a critique. I could say that I have 5,000 paintings in my basement, 1,000 in my garage, and 20,000 in my bathtub if I wanted.

Brian Sherwin Myartspace Blog July 18, 2008 at 10:16 am

I noticed that as well. If he has 3,000 stuffed away they should have included all of them during that. There was just over a hundred shown… if that.

Kinda reminds me of an art student who claims to have more work done, but never seems to bring it in for a critique. I could say that I have 5,000 paintings in my basement, 1,000 in my garage, and 20,000 in my bathtub if I wanted.

Brian Sherwin Myartspace Blog July 18, 2008 at 5:16 am

I noticed that as well. If he has 3,000 stuffed away they should have included all of them during that. There was just over a hundred shown… if that.

Kinda reminds me of an art student who claims to have more work done, but never seems to bring it in for a critique. I could say that I have 5,000 paintings in my basement, 1,000 in my garage, and 20,000 in my bathtub if I wanted.

Jason Coleman July 21, 2008 at 6:03 am

Fair review. Personally, I was very interested by the art itself.

@Brian, RE the 3000 paintings: It would very unfeasible for the filmmaker to include all 3000 paintings in the final montage. If you give each painting .25 seconds, it would still take 12.5 minutes to show them all… and wouldn’t be nearly as interesting.

And think about how long that would take to film. At 2 minutes per painting, it would take 6000 minutes, 1000 hours, or over 4 full days to take snap shots of the paintings.

But who knows. Maybe he was exaggerating… maybe a lot of those 3000 were shit. Considering he has a lot more paintings out in the wild, including $1mil+ of it from the 80s, he seems like a pretty prolific artist.

Jason Coleman July 21, 2008 at 1:03 am

Fair review. Personally, I was very interested by the art itself.

@Brian, RE the 3000 paintings: It would very unfeasible for the filmmaker to include all 3000 paintings in the final montage. If you give each painting .25 seconds, it would still take 12.5 minutes to show them all… and wouldn’t be nearly as interesting.

And think about how long that would take to film. At 2 minutes per painting, it would take 6000 minutes, 1000 hours, or over 4 full days to take snap shots of the paintings.

But who knows. Maybe he was exaggerating… maybe a lot of those 3000 were shit. Considering he has a lot more paintings out in the wild, including $1mil+ of it from the 80s, he seems like a pretty prolific artist.

Lance Dragon July 23, 2008 at 9:22 pm

I fancy his missus

Lance Dragon July 23, 2008 at 9:22 pm

I fancy his missus

Lance Dragon July 23, 2008 at 4:22 pm

I fancy his missus

cynthia engel July 28, 2008 at 3:19 am

Put his paintings on ebay and I will buy several of them…..
Next, why film this poor but talented, sad man. Lets instead raise money with all these high and mighty art dealers and get him help. Alcoholism is a disease. You have made a film exploiting the dark side of this disease for your benefit, yet have given him no help. Remember alcoholics never want help. You should have ended the film with an intervention.

cynthia engel July 28, 2008 at 3:19 am

Put his paintings on ebay and I will buy several of them…..
Next, why film this poor but talented, sad man. Lets instead raise money with all these high and mighty art dealers and get him help. Alcoholism is a disease. You have made a film exploiting the dark side of this disease for your benefit, yet have given him no help. Remember alcoholics never want help. You should have ended the film with an intervention.

cynthia engel July 27, 2008 at 10:19 pm

Put his paintings on ebay and I will buy several of them…..
Next, why film this poor but talented, sad man. Lets instead raise money with all these high and mighty art dealers and get him help. Alcoholism is a disease. You have made a film exploiting the dark side of this disease for your benefit, yet have given him no help. Remember alcoholics never want help. You should have ended the film with an intervention.

amanda morton July 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm

i’m kind of obsessed with this guy…i’m no fool …he’s a blow-hard and a beligerant A-hole, an egoist and a creep…definately a dangerous drunk…but there is something about much of his work..mostly the early stuff that feels very immediate and personal and mystical…on ocassion he’s a tremendous painter but he’s a sad hack too..some of the work is embarrassing to say the least..ugly and bone-headed…
the man needs to quit drinking…he is clearly at a point in his life where the booze has taken it’s toll…a great deal of damage has been done to his mind, his spirit and talent…

original he is not.

at one point he tells the story of an art dealer who dismissed him cruely…
“we are looking for the next great american painter…and YOU are not it…”

“why did they have to be so mean?” connelly whines.

the truth hurts, you big baby…

the real story is how this guy got so close to the big top on a pretty face and a loud but slightly wobbly mediocre gift….this man is no genius…prolific, for sure, but mostly he’s a jerk who went and blew it…god handed him a winning lottery ticket and he chose to wipe his bum…

i love the guy…i love his energy and pathetic, possibly heroic need to push on…i have spent hours looking at his stuff…i want one…he inspires me…but i see through him and as for as his “ruined career” is concerned he gets no sympathy from this aging art brat.

there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in the basement of every church in every town in every state in the union.

amanda morton July 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm

i’m kind of obsessed with this guy…i’m no fool …he’s a blow-hard and a beligerant A-hole, an egoist and a creep…definately a dangerous drunk…but there is something about much of his work..mostly the early stuff that feels very immediate and personal and mystical…on ocassion he’s a tremendous painter but he’s a sad hack too..some of the work is embarrassing to say the least..ugly and bone-headed…
the man needs to quit drinking…he is clearly at a point in his life where the booze has taken it’s toll…a great deal of damage has been done to his mind, his spirit and talent…

original he is not.

at one point he tells the story of an art dealer who dismissed him cruely…
“we are looking for the next great american painter…and YOU are not it…”

“why did they have to be so mean?” connelly whines.

the truth hurts, you big baby…

the real story is how this guy got so close to the big top on a pretty face and a loud but slightly wobbly mediocre gift….this man is no genius…prolific, for sure, but mostly he’s a jerk who went and blew it…god handed him a winning lottery ticket and he chose to wipe his bum…

i love the guy…i love his energy and pathetic, possibly heroic need to push on…i have spent hours looking at his stuff…i want one…he inspires me…but i see through him and as for as his “ruined career” is concerned he gets no sympathy from this aging art brat.

there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in the basement of every church in every town in every state in the union.

amanda morton July 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm

i’m kind of obsessed with this guy…i’m no fool …he’s a blow-hard and a beligerant A-hole, an egoist and a creep…definately a dangerous drunk…but there is something about much of his work..mostly the early stuff that feels very immediate and personal and mystical…on ocassion he’s a tremendous painter but he’s a sad hack too..some of the work is embarrassing to say the least..ugly and bone-headed…
the man needs to quit drinking…he is clearly at a point in his life where the booze has taken it’s toll…a great deal of damage has been done to his mind, his spirit and talent…

original he is not.

at one point he tells the story of an art dealer who dismissed him cruely…
“we are looking for the next great american painter…and YOU are not it…”

“why did they have to be so mean?” connelly whines.

the truth hurts, you big baby…

the real story is how this guy got so close to the big top on a pretty face and a loud but slightly wobbly mediocre gift….this man is no genius…prolific, for sure, but mostly he’s a jerk who went and blew it…god handed him a winning lottery ticket and he chose to wipe his bum…

i love the guy…i love his energy and pathetic, possibly heroic need to push on…i have spent hours looking at his stuff…i want one…he inspires me…but i see through him and as for as his “ruined career” is concerned he gets no sympathy from this aging art brat.

there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in the basement of every church in every town in every state in the union.

amanda morton July 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm

i’m kind of obsessed with this guy…i’m no fool …he’s a blow-hard and a beligerant A-hole, an egoist and a creep…definately a dangerous drunk…but there is something about much of his work..mostly the early stuff that feels very immediate and personal and mystical…on ocassion he’s a tremendous painter but he’s a sad hack too..some of the work is embarrassing to say the least..ugly and bone-headed…
the man needs to quit drinking…he is clearly at a point in his life where the booze has taken it’s toll…a great deal of damage has been done to his mind, his spirit and talent…

original he is not.

at one point he tells the story of an art dealer who dismissed him cruely…
“we are looking for the next great american painter…and YOU are not it…”

“why did they have to be so mean?” connelly whines.

the truth hurts, you big baby…

the real story is how this guy got so close to the big top on a pretty face and a loud but slightly wobbly mediocre gift….this man is no genius…prolific, for sure, but mostly he’s a jerk who went and blew it…god handed him a winning lottery ticket and he chose to wipe his bum…

i love the guy…i love his energy and pathetic, possibly heroic need to push on…i have spent hours looking at his stuff…i want one…he inspires me…but i see through him and as for as his “ruined career” is concerned he gets no sympathy from this aging art brat.

there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in the basement of every church in every town in every state in the union.

amanda morton July 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm

i’m kind of obsessed with this guy…i’m no fool …he’s a blow-hard and a beligerant A-hole, an egoist and a creep…definately a dangerous drunk…but there is something about much of his work..mostly the early stuff that feels very immediate and personal and mystical…on ocassion he’s a tremendous painter but he’s a sad hack too..some of the work is embarrassing to say the least..ugly and bone-headed…
the man needs to quit drinking…he is clearly at a point in his life where the booze has taken it’s toll…a great deal of damage has been done to his mind, his spirit and talent…

original he is not.

at one point he tells the story of an art dealer who dismissed him cruely…
“we are looking for the next great american painter…and YOU are not it…”

“why did they have to be so mean?” connelly whines.

the truth hurts, you big baby…

the real story is how this guy got so close to the big top on a pretty face and a loud but slightly wobbly mediocre gift….this man is no genius…prolific, for sure, but mostly he’s a jerk who went and blew it…god handed him a winning lottery ticket and he chose to wipe his bum…

i love the guy…i love his energy and pathetic, possibly heroic need to push on…i have spent hours looking at his stuff…i want one…he inspires me…but i see through him and as for as his “ruined career” is concerned he gets no sympathy from this aging art brat.

there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in the basement of every church in every town in every state in the union.

amanda morton July 29, 2008 at 4:21 pm

i’m kind of obsessed with this guy…i’m no fool …he’s a blow-hard and a beligerant A-hole, an egoist and a creep…definately a dangerous drunk…but there is something about much of his work..mostly the early stuff that feels very immediate and personal and mystical…on ocassion he’s a tremendous painter but he’s a sad hack too..some of the work is embarrassing to say the least..ugly and bone-headed…
the man needs to quit drinking…he is clearly at a point in his life where the booze has taken it’s toll…a great deal of damage has been done to his mind, his spirit and talent…

original he is not.

at one point he tells the story of an art dealer who dismissed him cruely…
“we are looking for the next great american painter…and YOU are not it…”

“why did they have to be so mean?” connelly whines.

the truth hurts, you big baby…

the real story is how this guy got so close to the big top on a pretty face and a loud but slightly wobbly mediocre gift….this man is no genius…prolific, for sure, but mostly he’s a jerk who went and blew it…god handed him a winning lottery ticket and he chose to wipe his bum…

i love the guy…i love his energy and pathetic, possibly heroic need to push on…i have spent hours looking at his stuff…i want one…he inspires me…but i see through him and as for as his “ruined career” is concerned he gets no sympathy from this aging art brat.

there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in the basement of every church in every town in every state in the union.

richard martin July 30, 2008 at 2:45 pm

What an artist, his early works will one day be worth millions

richard martin July 30, 2008 at 2:45 pm

What an artist, his early works will one day be worth millions

richard martin July 30, 2008 at 2:45 pm

What an artist, his early works will one day be worth millions

richard martin July 30, 2008 at 2:45 pm

What an artist, his early works will one day be worth millions

richard martin July 30, 2008 at 9:45 am

What an artist, his early works will one day be worth millions

James Mc. August 13, 2008 at 2:20 pm

…”whose deep personality problems and alcoholism eventually caused his exile from the art world”

Certainly that was one of the major narratives of the film, but to me, it is pat and a bit forced and unconvincing.

To hear the film tell it, he was very successful and on the cusp of superstardom circa 1990, yet somehow his “arrogance” mysteriously ruined everything. He supposedly pissed off Scorcese and an influential gallery owner (a French woman whose name escapes me) and that was that. His career promptly went to shit. Is it really that simple though?

Can anyone really pinpoint why the very few accede to stardom while many enormously talented artists labor in obscurity?

The film amply demonstrates that Connelly is often a bitter, angry drunk (15 years after his apex of success), but perhaps that’s the result of his lack of success rather than the opposite.

The film did have a segment where it blows through several hundred of his paintings in a few minutes. I found myself stopping and rewinding countless times to admire the images.

He’s a great artist.

James Mc. August 13, 2008 at 9:20 am

…”whose deep personality problems and alcoholism eventually caused his exile from the art world”

Certainly that was one of the major narratives of the film, but to me, it is pat and a bit forced and unconvincing.

To hear the film tell it, he was very successful and on the cusp of superstardom circa 1990, yet somehow his “arrogance” mysteriously ruined everything. He supposedly pissed off Scorcese and an influential gallery owner (a French woman whose name escapes me) and that was that. His career promptly went to shit. Is it really that simple though?

Can anyone really pinpoint why the very few accede to stardom while many enormously talented artists labor in obscurity?

The film amply demonstrates that Connelly is often a bitter, angry drunk (15 years after his apex of success), but perhaps that’s the result of his lack of success rather than the opposite.

The film did have a segment where it blows through several hundred of his paintings in a few minutes. I found myself stopping and rewinding countless times to admire the images.

He’s a great artist.

Suze September 3, 2008 at 4:44 am

What a gorgeous artist. Who CARES if he’s an asshole? Is that unheard of in the art world? Among all arts? In any profession. My God, I wish I could buy his work. It’s AMAZING. heartbreaking that his value is based solely on his ability to kiss tush.

Suze September 3, 2008 at 4:44 am

What a gorgeous artist. Who CARES if he’s an asshole? Is that unheard of in the art world? Among all arts? In any profession. My God, I wish I could buy his work. It’s AMAZING. heartbreaking that his value is based solely on his ability to kiss tush.

Suze September 3, 2008 at 4:44 am

What a gorgeous artist. Who CARES if he’s an asshole? Is that unheard of in the art world? Among all arts? In any profession. My God, I wish I could buy his work. It’s AMAZING. heartbreaking that his value is based solely on his ability to kiss tush.

Suze September 2, 2008 at 11:44 pm

What a gorgeous artist. Who CARES if he’s an asshole? Is that unheard of in the art world? Among all arts? In any profession. My God, I wish I could buy his work. It’s AMAZING. heartbreaking that his value is based solely on his ability to kiss tush.

The Hill September 29, 2008 at 1:58 pm

The idea that alcoholism is a disease is an uninformed position. There are no pathogens to constitute an infection. Alcoholism is the result of using a habit forming drug through social sanctions like group/family approval. To say it’s a disease is an attempt to let the user off the hook, “Oh he can’t help it.” Alcohol related car accidents alone cause 22K deaths a year in America, yet it is one of the main drugs protected/facilitated/regulated by the Feds, The ATF, along w/ tobacco. That is by far more than all drug deaths put together. I quit drinking when I realized it was taking time away from my kids.

There are Connelly’s in every art school. Their poison is not worth the effort and this one here is as easily forgettable.

Sdreel March 6, 2011 at 6:38 pm

As a recovering alcoholic I can easily not take offense at your ignorance, but as an artist..”connelly’s in every school”?…..sorry your ignorance is so exposed that I feel sorry for you.

The Hill September 29, 2008 at 8:58 am

The idea that alcoholism is a disease is an uninformed position. There are no pathogens to constitute an infection. Alcoholism is the result of using a habit forming drug through social sanctions like group/family approval. To say it’s a disease is an attempt to let the user off the hook, “Oh he can’t help it.” Alcohol related car accidents alone cause 22K deaths a year in America, yet it is one of the main drugs protected/facilitated/regulated by the Feds, The ATF, along w/ tobacco. That is by far more than all drug deaths put together. I quit drinking when I realized it was taking time away from my kids.

There are Connelly’s in every art school. Their poison is not worth the effort and this one here is as easily forgettable.

deb January 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm

how do i get in touch with chuck connelly i want to buy his work

deb January 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm

how do i get in touch with chuck connelly i want to buy his work

deb January 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm

how do i get in touch with chuck connelly i want to buy his work

deb January 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm

how do i get in touch with chuck connelly i want to buy his work

deb January 13, 2009 at 12:28 pm

how do i get in touch with chuck connelly i want to buy his work

tangledweb January 28, 2009 at 9:23 pm

“…there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in every church basement in every…” Are you f*ing kidding me? If it was that easy, don’t you think all alcoholics would just hie themselves off to said friendly little church meetings? Good lord. You make it seem as if people that far gone with alcoholism CHOOSE to drink…and whether or not you agree or disagree in the disease theory, it is most definitely not within one’s control after a certain point. I know what I’m talking about. I quit drinking 21 years ago, sans AA (no god crap for me, thanks: call it a higher power all you want, but that’s what they mean and everyone knows it) and if I hadn’t had the support of my husband and the desire to be a good mother to my new baby, I never would have done it. OK, all that aside, this man’s art rocks! What a bunch of sour grapes cynical disgusting judgmental idiots you who have missed that simple fact are! I have money and I intend to buy one or two of his paintings as soon as I can find out where and how. That’s the bottom line, people, who cares what the man’s problems/issues/weaknesses/illnesses or non-illnesses are- his paintings rock! He’s a f*ing genius and if you can’t see that, you need to go back to art appreciation 101.

tangledweb January 28, 2009 at 4:23 pm

“…there’s an AA meeting starting at 7 in every church basement in every…” Are you f*ing kidding me? If it was that easy, don’t you think all alcoholics would just hie themselves off to said friendly little church meetings? Good lord. You make it seem as if people that far gone with alcoholism CHOOSE to drink…and whether or not you agree or disagree in the disease theory, it is most definitely not within one’s control after a certain point. I know what I’m talking about. I quit drinking 21 years ago, sans AA (no god crap for me, thanks: call it a higher power all you want, but that’s what they mean and everyone knows it) and if I hadn’t had the support of my husband and the desire to be a good mother to my new baby, I never would have done it. OK, all that aside, this man’s art rocks! What a bunch of sour grapes cynical disgusting judgmental idiots you who have missed that simple fact are! I have money and I intend to buy one or two of his paintings as soon as I can find out where and how. That’s the bottom line, people, who cares what the man’s problems/issues/weaknesses/illnesses or non-illnesses are- his paintings rock! He’s a f*ing genius and if you can’t see that, you need to go back to art appreciation 101.

Patrick July 9, 2009 at 12:50 am

You guys kill me. Hes a great artist…I have a few of his works…newer stuff, large and small. He has -0- to give outside of the work and has -0-level of compromise and that drives people nuts! “He’s sad, he’s a drunk, he’s a hack.” Give me a break. He IS the work. He is arguably one of the greatest living artist alive. As you know this is not the first time such a talent was not fully recognized by the world in a timley manner.
But I will give you this caution…never get too close…in the end you become disenchanted with first the artist and then the Self. Take the art, leave the artist. Obsorb the pure language of the work, and nothing more. That should be enough. It is enough. It’s all there is.

Patrick July 9, 2009 at 12:50 am

You guys kill me. Hes a great artist…I have a few of his works…newer stuff, large and small. He has -0- to give outside of the work and has -0-level of compromise and that drives people nuts! “He’s sad, he’s a drunk, he’s a hack.” Give me a break. He IS the work. He is arguably one of the greatest living artist alive. As you know this is not the first time such a talent was not fully recognized by the world in a timley manner.
But I will give you this caution…never get too close…in the end you become disenchanted with first the artist and then the Self. Take the art, leave the artist. Obsorb the pure language of the work, and nothing more. That should be enough. It is enough. It’s all there is.

Patrick July 9, 2009 at 12:50 am

You guys kill me. Hes a great artist…I have a few of his works…newer stuff, large and small. He has -0- to give outside of the work and has -0-level of compromise and that drives people nuts! “He’s sad, he’s a drunk, he’s a hack.” Give me a break. He IS the work. He is arguably one of the greatest living artist alive. As you know this is not the first time such a talent was not fully recognized by the world in a timley manner.
But I will give you this caution…never get too close…in the end you become disenchanted with first the artist and then the Self. Take the art, leave the artist. Obsorb the pure language of the work, and nothing more. That should be enough. It is enough. It’s all there is.

Patrick July 8, 2009 at 7:50 pm

You guys kill me. Hes a great artist…I have a few of his works…newer stuff, large and small. He has -0- to give outside of the work and has -0-level of compromise and that drives people nuts! “He’s sad, he’s a drunk, he’s a hack.” Give me a break. He IS the work. He is arguably one of the greatest living artist alive. As you know this is not the first time such a talent was not fully recognized by the world in a timley manner.
But I will give you this caution…never get too close…in the end you become disenchanted with first the artist and then the Self. Take the art, leave the artist. Obsorb the pure language of the work, and nothing more. That should be enough. It is enough. It’s all there is.

vkw August 4, 2009 at 5:26 am

I am fortunate to have one of chuck connelly’s paintings. It is a wonder – he has to be working from some higher place.

Did you see his work?

I don’t know about all you say about him personally, in the flick he just seems honest – and tired.

vkw August 4, 2009 at 12:26 am

I am fortunate to have one of chuck connelly’s paintings. It is a wonder – he has to be working from some higher place.

Did you see his work?

I don’t know about all you say about him personally, in the flick he just seems honest – and tired.

cartier art November 2, 2009 at 5:25 pm

herr connelly ist ein grossartiger Künstler, und ein wahrhaftiger Mensch!

Künstler sein bedeutet in erster Linie Mensch sein,dies bedeutet den verzicht und die Einsamkeit, schliesst aber zugleich Kraft und Glauben in sich ein.(“Mensch werde wesentlich”).

Wann gehen den Zeitgenossen für das Wunder das in einer solchen Malerei, mit einer solchen Malerei verwircklicht ist, die Augen auf?

Ich grüsse Sie Hochachtungsvoll Maestro Sui Generis!

art cartier
marktgasse 27
4600 olten
041 62 212 32 74

cartier art November 2, 2009 at 5:25 pm

herr connelly ist ein grossartiger Künstler, und ein wahrhaftiger Mensch!

Künstler sein bedeutet in erster Linie Mensch sein,dies bedeutet den verzicht und die Einsamkeit, schliesst aber zugleich Kraft und Glauben in sich ein.(“Mensch werde wesentlich”).

Wann gehen den Zeitgenossen für das Wunder das in einer solchen Malerei, mit einer solchen Malerei verwircklicht ist, die Augen auf?

Ich grüsse Sie Hochachtungsvoll Maestro Sui Generis!

art cartier
marktgasse 27
4600 olten
041 62 212 32 74

cartier art November 2, 2009 at 5:25 pm

herr connelly ist ein grossartiger Künstler, und ein wahrhaftiger Mensch!

Künstler sein bedeutet in erster Linie Mensch sein,dies bedeutet den verzicht und die Einsamkeit, schliesst aber zugleich Kraft und Glauben in sich ein.(“Mensch werde wesentlich”).

Wann gehen den Zeitgenossen für das Wunder das in einer solchen Malerei, mit einer solchen Malerei verwircklicht ist, die Augen auf?

Ich grüsse Sie Hochachtungsvoll Maestro Sui Generis!

art cartier
marktgasse 27
4600 olten
041 62 212 32 74

cartier art November 2, 2009 at 5:25 pm

herr connelly ist ein grossartiger Künstler, und ein wahrhaftiger Mensch!

Künstler sein bedeutet in erster Linie Mensch sein,dies bedeutet den verzicht und die Einsamkeit, schliesst aber zugleich Kraft und Glauben in sich ein.(“Mensch werde wesentlich”).

Wann gehen den Zeitgenossen für das Wunder das in einer solchen Malerei, mit einer solchen Malerei verwircklicht ist, die Augen auf?

Ich grüsse Sie Hochachtungsvoll Maestro Sui Generis!

art cartier
marktgasse 27
4600 olten
041 62 212 32 74

cartier art November 2, 2009 at 1:25 pm

herr connelly ist ein grossartiger Künstler, und ein wahrhaftiger Mensch!

Künstler sein bedeutet in erster Linie Mensch sein,dies bedeutet den verzicht und die Einsamkeit, schliesst aber zugleich Kraft und Glauben in sich ein.(“Mensch werde wesentlich”).

Wann gehen den Zeitgenossen für das Wunder das in einer solchen Malerei, mit einer solchen Malerei verwircklicht ist, die Augen auf?

Ich grüsse Sie Hochachtungsvoll Maestro Sui Generis!

art cartier
marktgasse 27
4600 olten
041 62 212 32 74

corcoranart February 4, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Chuck is a great artist. He has a fantasy world in his work which is not common. He needs to keep some control all the same. Then, he will get there and quite fast. His art did not please all the art world because the art world has become somewhat a sour joke, pushing mediocre artforms installments, sharks in tanks, plexiglass this and aluminium that, he is the real thing, the artist and his view on the world we live in an the demons that haunt his mind. Great stuff

corcoranart February 4, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Chuck is a great artist. He has a fantasy world in his work which is not common. He needs to keep some control all the same. Then, he will get there and quite fast. His art did not please all the art world because the art world has become somewhat a sour joke, pushing mediocre artforms installments, sharks in tanks, plexiglass this and aluminium that, he is the real thing, the artist and his view on the world we live in an the demons that haunt his mind. Great stuff

corcoranart February 4, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Chuck is a great artist. He has a fantasy world in his work which is not common. He needs to keep some control all the same. Then, he will get there and quite fast. His art did not please all the art world because the art world has become somewhat a sour joke, pushing mediocre artforms installments, sharks in tanks, plexiglass this and aluminium that, he is the real thing, the artist and his view on the world we live in an the demons that haunt his mind. Great stuff

corcoranart February 4, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Chuck is a great artist. He has a fantasy world in his work which is not common. He needs to keep some control all the same. Then, he will get there and quite fast. His art did not please all the art world because the art world has become somewhat a sour joke, pushing mediocre artforms installments, sharks in tanks, plexiglass this and aluminium that, he is the real thing, the artist and his view on the world we live in an the demons that haunt his mind. Great stuff

corcoranart February 4, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Chuck is a great artist. He has a fantasy world in his work which is not common. He needs to keep some control all the same. Then, he will get there and quite fast. His art did not please all the art world because the art world has become somewhat a sour joke, pushing mediocre artforms installments, sharks in tanks, plexiglass this and aluminium that, he is the real thing, the artist and his view on the world we live in an the demons that haunt his mind. Great stuff

corcoranart February 4, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Chuck is a great artist. He has a fantasy world in his work which is not common. He needs to keep some control all the same. Then, he will get there and quite fast. His art did not please all the art world because the art world has become somewhat a sour joke, pushing mediocre artforms installments, sharks in tanks, plexiglass this and aluminium that, he is the real thing, the artist and his view on the world we live in an the demons that haunt his mind. Great stuff

Nan nan January 20, 2011 at 8:59 pm

That’s what I call an artist…period!

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: