David Bowie died just over a week ago and frankly I waspretty busted up about it. From 1999-2003 I wrote for Modern Painters magazine, during the London era when he sat on its advisory board... I know a lot of people who actually knew the man and it is pretty plain that most people know the art more than the person. He was deeply interested in critical dialog, not just garnering attention.

Here in Portland the constant din of people trying to out Bowie one another... even at New Seasons just made me want to pull back. Here are a few Bowie links related to Art that might be of interest:

David Bowie's top 100 books... you get a sense of his interest in artifice for its own essentially humanist sake.

Michael Kimmelman interviewed Bowie on his taste in art. Notice the edge the man has? ... even for artists he liked. BTW that is a Great Auerbach.

An interesting interview with the musician who worked the longest with him... all sorts of good things for any artist to take from it.