Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together

I mean, I don't understand completely--
 I'm not surprised
 But he combines all these different trends
 I'm not surprised
 You can't divide art today
 Into categories neatly
 Oh?
 What matters is the means, not the ends
 I'm not surprised
 That is the state of the art, my dear
 That is the state of the art
 It's not enough knowing good from rotten
 You're telling me--
 When something new pops up every day
 You're telling me--
 It's only new, though, for now--
 Nouveau!
 But yesterday's forgotten
 And tomorrow is already passé
 There's no surprise
 That is the state of the art, my friend
 That is the state of the art
 He's an original--
 Was
 I like the images--
 Some
 Come on, you had your moment
 Now it's George's turn-- (It's George's turn?)
 Don't you think he's original? (I wasn't talking turns)
 Well, yes (I'm talking art)
 You're talking crap (But is it really new?)
 Well, no
 It's more than novelty (His own collaborator!)
 Well, yes
 It's just impersonal, but-- (It's all promotion, but then--)
 That is the state of the art
 Isn't it? Well
 Art isn't easy--
 Even when you've amassed it--
 Fighting for prizes--
 No one can be an oracle
 Art isn't easy
 Suddenly, you're past it
 All compromises--
 And then when it's allegorical--
 Art isn't easy (Art isn't easy, Art isn't easy)--
 Any way you look at it
 All right, George
 As long as it's your night, George
 You know what's in the room, George
 Another Chromolume, George
 It's time to get to work
 George, I want you to meet one of our board members
 This is Harriet Pawling
 What a pleasure
 And this is my friend, Billy Webster
 How do you do
 Well, I'll just leave you three to chat
 Say "cheese," George
 And put them at their ease, George
 You're up on the trapeze, George
 Machines don't grow on trees, George
 Start putting it together
 This is the third piece of yours I've seen
 They are getting so large!
 Art isn't easy--
 Even when you're hot
 Are these inventions of yours one of a kind?
 Advancing art is easy--
 Yes
 Financing it is not
 A vision's just a vision
 If it's only in your heed
 If no one gets to see it
 It's as good as dead
 It has to come to light!
 I put the names of my contributors on the side of each machine
 How clever
 Bit by bit
 Putting it together
 Piece by piece--
 Only way to make a work of art
 Every moment makes a contribution
 Every little detail plays a part
 Having just a vision's no solution
 Everything depends on execution
 Putting it together--
 That's what counts!
 The Board of the Foundation is meeting next week
 Ounce by ounce
 Putting it together
 You'll come to lunch
 Small amounts
 Adding up to make a work of art
 First of all you need a good foundation
 Otherwise it's risky from the start
 Takes a little cocktail conversation
 But without the proper preparation
 Having just a vision's no solution
 Everything depends on execution
 The art of making art
 Is putting it together
 Bit by bit
 We haven't met. Charles Redmond, County Museum of Texas
 Wanted you to know we're in the process of giving out some sizable
 Commissions--
 Link by link
 Making the connections
 I hope you don't mind my bringing up business during a social occasion
 Drink by drink
 Fixing and perfecting the design
 Adding just a dab of politician
 Always knowing where to draw the line
 Lining up the funds but in addition
 Lining up a prominent commission
 Otherwise your perfect composition
 Isn't going to get much exhibition
 Art isn't easy
 Every minor detail
 Is a major decision
 Have to keep things in scale
 Have to hold to your vision-
 Every time I start to feel defensive
 I remember lasers are expensive
 What's a little cocktail conversation
 If it's going to get you your foundation
 Leading to a prominent commission
 And an exhibition in addition?
 Art isn't easy--
 Trying to make connections--
 Who understands it?
 Difficult to evaluate
 Art isn't easy--
 Trying to form collections--
 Always in transit--
 And then when you have to collaborate!
 Art isn't easy
 Any way you look at it
 George, hello. Lee Randolph. I handle the public relations for the museum
 Dot by dot
 Building up the image
 There's a lot of opportunity for some nice press here
 Shot by shot
 Keeping at a distance doesn't pay
 Still, if you remember your objective
 Not give all your privacy away
 A little bit of hype can be effective
 Long as you can keep it in perspective
 After all, without some recognition
 No one's going to give you a commission
 Art isn't easy
 Overnight you're a trend
 You're the right combination--
 Then the trend's at an end
 You're suddenly last year's sensation
 If you feel a sense of coalition
 Then you never really stand alone
 If you want your work to reach fruition
 What you need's a link with your tradition
 And of course a prominent commission
 Plus a little formal recognition
 So that you can go on exhibit--
 So that your work can go on exhibition
 There's the man of the hour
 Blair! Hello. I read your piece on Neo-Expressionism
 Good for you
 Well, what did you think?
 George. Chromolume number 7?
 Be nice, George
 I was hoping it would be a series of three, four at the most
 You have to pay a price, George (I have touted your work from the beginning, you know that)
 They like to give advice, George (You were really on to something with these light machines once)
 Don't think about it twice George (Now they're just becoming more and more about less and less)
 I disagree
 Now don't get me wrong. You're a talented guy
 But I think you are capable of far more
 Be new, George (Not that you couldn't succeed by)
 They tell you till they're blue, George (Doing Chromolume after Chromolume)
 You're new or else you're through, George (But there are new discoveries to be made, George)
 And even if it's true, George-
 You do what you can do
 Bit by bit
 Putting it together
 Piece by piece
 Working out the vision night and day
 All it takes is time and perseverance
 With a little luck along the way
 Putting in a personal appearance
 Gathering supporters and adherents
 But he combines all these different trends
 Mapping out the right configuration
 Starting with a suitable foundation
 He's an original
 Was
 Lining up a prominent commission--
 And an exhibition in addition--
 Here a little dab of politician-- (I like those images)
 There a little touch of publication-- (Some)
 Till you have a balanced composition--
 Everything depends on preparation--
 Even if you do have the suspicion
 That it's taking all your concentration--
 The art of making art (And that is the state of the art!)
 Is putting it together (Art isn't easy!)
 Bit by bit
 Link by link
 Drink by drink
 Mink by mink
 And that
 Is the state of the
 Art!