Art Finds an Audience

Times Art Critic Christopher Knight got it exactly right when he wrote that “The American Century” exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York is “meant for people with only superficial interest in art” (“A Big Lesson, a Little Dull,” May 29). That describes me, and I loved what I saw of it.

Knight was worse than cranky in his review. He was snooty, sneering at those people who like some relevance in the exhibitions we visit.

JESSIE LEWIS

Studio City

After bingeing on art museums on a recent trip to New York, we visited “The American Century” exhibition and came away disappointed with the provincialism and lack of diversity in subject matter.

Thank you for pointing out that this exhibit is more didactic than art survey. We’ll just sit out here in Los Angeles and wait for the next great show. Some of the exhibits of lesser-known artists displayed at the Autry Museum and at LACMA have been wonderful.

CAROL DONDICK

Northridge

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If visitors to New York pass on the show, based upon Knight’s review, it would be truly unfortunate. Yes, it does feel like a history lesson, and yes, the paintings of Hogue are third-rate, as are several other pieces in the show.

But, hey, pass those up! Any time you exhibit first-rate work of Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, Robert Henri, Jacob Lawrence, Reginald Marsh, Paul Cadmus, etc., there is more than enough great stuff in one exhibit to knock your socks off.

TED RUBIN

Valley Glen