Extinguishing our souls!

Lenny posted this amusing article from New York Arts about Larry Salander, an art dealer who tried to pump up the market in Old Masters and failed miserably. I paused at this line:

"But there has been a longtime manipulation of people who want to make money to dumb down the American society and rob us of the curiosity of our souls.”

Regardless of whether Salander is a zealous protector of great art or just a swindler, I'm intrigued by this assertion. Consumerism really does seem to have taken over our society, leading us to believe that we'll be happier if we own more of the "right" stuff. It's happening in the art market for sure.

I think that if we would focus less on acquisition and more on experiences, we could be happier. Sounds contradictory coming from me seeing as I'm a huge proponent of collecting art and I think people should buy art. But people should buy art with which they feel a connection so that they can experience it every day and be inspired and stimulated by it every day. And best of all: it won't wear out with use.