Art Studio 7A: Art and Life: Reader: Introduction

Calvin Tomkins introduces the reader to five masters of avant-garde in the introduction of his work, "The Bride and the Bachelors". He first states that these artists do not share a common point of view or constitute a movement or school. Rather, Tomkins finds that these artists have a natural affinity in their basic attitudes toward art and toward life. Each artists has attempted to break down the barriers that exist between art and life they have also discarded tradition notions of the role of the artist. This "new" artist invites the viewer to participate and interact with his/her work by simply experiencing it rather than defaulting to an interpretation. Tomkins also points out that all five artists originate from a different country or state yet they all end up in New York City. In conclusion, Tomkins states that all five artists attempt to break down the barriers between art and life, a impossible undertaking.