Herb Ritts Gallery To Open In 2010

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is establishing a permanent gallery honouring photographer Herb Ritts, who died in 2002. The usual criticisms have been raised, namely that Ritts' work is closer to pop culture than it is to fine art, which is likely the same thing they said about the Mona Lisa while it was drying.

Ritts' work, if anything, is the bridge between pop culture and fine art; all pop culture fades, and as it does whatever is most loved in it is then elevated to the status of fine art. His pictures are iconic and much loved - the ultimate measure of art - ergo, end of story.

A donation of $2.5 million US and 189 images has been made by his foundation to establish the space. A showing of his work at the same museum in 1996 drew a quarter million visitors. Being the curmudgeon I am, I can't help thinking that the fact that Ritts was gay, as well as the fact that he died of AIDS, as much as his popularity, is what has drawn the ire of the artsy crowd.

Not that you'd ever get me to say such a thing out loud, that is. Photography has always been given short shrift by the Art with a Capital A crowd anyway, so it could just be plain snobbery rather than homophobia that has their blue stockings in a wad.

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