Comments on Vinny's View: Marla Olmstead

Crystal finally said what has been on my mind. Ev...

2008-09-27T04:08:00.000-04:00

Crystal finally said what has been on my mind. Everyone is so blasted black and white in their expert opinions, completely forgetting the issue. This little person likes to paint and has a skill that appeals to some people. Other people may buy paintings for other reasons, like an investment. To each their own, but don't make it the artist's problem if they do that. No one can control the command for a piece of art, especially a young family who lived outside the art world. In this case, because the artist happens to be extremely young, people have forgotten to use their brains and have become extremely judgemental and foolish.

Tell me...What artist, writer, performer, dancer, whatever is not influenced by others? Asks opinions? Why do Directors exist in the movies or theater? Artist apprentice, have instructors, and even families that help them with input. Heck, I've heard of editors pratically rewriting books for authors! If Marla asks the opinion of a parent, should they not reply? Wouldn't that be a bit stiffling as a child not knowing why your parent isn't talking with you about something so important in your life? Even as young as she is, she'd know something was up and most likely interpret it to be something she's doing wrong.

And, Ms. Anonymous Artist: if you were about to trash up a painting by adding or extracting something and asked your husband's opinion, (in your adult language, not a 4 year old's language abilities) llke "If I use this color will it ruin the balance?" has he finished your work? Are you no longer the artist? I find your judgements quite arrogant and foolish. If you have studied art anywhere, even public schools, you must have been helped in your work at sometime by working with others. So if any type of guidance is absolutely finishing another's work, then when you asked their thoughts did you sign both your names to the piece, or heck, in your judgement, just turn the whole darn work over to them? (Now I'm getting angry, which does no good.)

Bottom line is I watched the documentary and was impressed with the colors, the freedom, the line, the vision of this young mind. I couldn't do that when I was her age. I can't do it now. Hopefully, her special vision will be something she views as a blessing in place of a curse. In my opinion, if people would just let her paint and enjoy herself, and let let the business of her craft happen the way it happens, ce la vie. Keep the ugliness to yourselves and away from her for now. Hopefully she'll grow up happy to make art. In this world, it's either exposure or nothing in this type of circumstance. The difficult decisions her family had to make, to keep her painting to themselves or to let others see her work, has long-term impact either way. So let the child be.

Let her paint and explore. Hopefuly, this vision will grow with her and not be stilled by overbearing outsiders and pressure to please everyone except her own heart.

Are people buying the art because they like it, or...

2008-09-26T18:29:00.000-04:00

Are people buying the art because they like it, or because a child created it? Are they true art lovers or status seekers trying to ride on the childs shirt tail? Come on people get a grip! If you rlike the art buy it, if your don't like it leave it alone. Why are we as a society so quick to look for the ugliness is everything? We have to pick things apart until theres nothing left. Why can't we just see the inocence and beauty in things? Even if he had coached her some, so what? She's a child and isn't it the parents duty to teach? How many true artists can say eveything they have done is wonderful? How many can say that each piece of work is as polished as the last? The media needs to stop trying to find the dirt in everything to selfishly boost thier own careers and ratings. The meia really has gotten out of control in all aspects the past few decades. I wish Marla and her family all the best. Seek your own happiness and ignore the nasty bitterness that unhappy mud slingers dish out.

I just finished watching the documentary regarding...

2008-09-22T14:32:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching the documentary regarding your niece. I also followed her story earlier when she was four. Especially the 60 Minutes debunking. I had an open mind when I watched this documentary and I felt that the filmaker was quiet honest and trying to just get to the truth. After watching his documentary it is so obivous that the father helped this little girl. She is not doing anything special. She paints, acts and behaves like a typical 4 and 5 year old. Nothing I saw in her actions proved her a child prodigy. Any child could do it. They did scam alot of people out of alot of money and continue to do so. I feel bad for this little girl because she will grow up and realize what a scam her parents created and continued to do so. Art is so subjective so it doesn't matter if someone wants to pay x amount of dollars for any painting. It is their money and their privilege but I can't understand how these parents can subject their daughter to such dishonesty. The father totally showed his true colors when the daughter asked him to do his PART in the painting and to tell her what to do. His response and over explaining it showed his dishonesty and guilt. I truly wanted to believe that this little girl was the artist but both parents faces and actions (especially the father) proved me wrong not the film's creator.

I ABSOLUTELY believe that the father doctored the ...

2008-09-18T15:16:00.000-04:00

I ABSOLUTELY believe that the father doctored the paintings! The look on his face when Laura said she'd like to take a lie-detector test said it all. Look at that bit of footage on the documentary. It was as if he was saying "OMG, don't even suggest such a thing, please shut up!". The filmaker was quite excellent in his portrayal of things gone WAY wrong! I AM an artist and DO know what I am talking about, and am not an idiot, OR naive like those poor schleps who bought "Ocean". My husband and I both wanted to believe the best, But couldn't. Laura is either naive or in denial, because to "know" the truth may cause her family great pain, becuase she may ahve to make a decision about staying with someone who had betryed her by using their child and lying flat-out to her face.

I just watched the "bogus" documentary and I have ...

2008-09-18T13:20:00.000-04:00

I just watched the "bogus" documentary and I have to say as a completely neutral observer (with a 2 and 5 year old) the film's creator did an excellent job portraying the family as well as articulating the position of the "doubters". The family seems well intentioned for the most part- who doesn't want to believe their child is special? I never thought the father was 'polishing' the paintings are directing the work. However, the work, and its creation, did seem hardly dissimilar to what I observe from my 5yr old daughter on a daily basis. I kept waiting to see paintings by other children and then discussing the differences (or similarities) and this never happened. In this way only can I see the documentary as "bogus". I think the child is perfectly innocent, perhaps the parents as well. The blame is with those paying thousands for these paintings (and most abstract art). They're not being fooled- they're fooling themselves.

KUDOS to the Olmstead family for continuing to sho...

2008-09-18T12:17:00.000-04:00

KUDOS to the Olmstead family for continuing to show pride of there daughters incredible work! I am not versed in anyway in any art of anykind, but I saw more than that in the docu. I saw a story of a family just trying to maintain a normal child and being thrusts into the spotlight and lied too multiple times. I applaud them for continuing to encourage there daughters expression of herself and we all should take a lesson in that. Really, just because she doesn't preform in front of people she doesn't know does not mean she cannot create this stuff. Sometimes you have to believe. Again, if you doubt her than just don't buy! I believe her and her parents and I say "ROCK ON!"