Episode 391 revisits the OLD NEWS (Jeff Weiss’s nightly email blast of art-related content) and dovetails with a Lucien Smith obituary, including comments from readers of the obit more than the obituary itself.
George Stoll, a comment from The Art Daddy, and passages from a long Atlantic article by Sebastian Smee exploring the career and influence of Norman Rockwell, particularly on the films of David Lynch, round out the episode.
In BONUS footage for Patreon, there is more tribute to Lucien Smith and more content from the article on Rockwell, and Lynch.
Sept. 9th, 2026 (ny times)
Lucien Smith, Art-World Star Whose Career Abruptly Turned, Dies at 37
A phenom in his 20s, he became the poster child for Zombie Formalism before abandoning the gallery frenzy for Montauk.
Chris Wiley on The conversation: https://theconversationpod.com/epis-356-zombie-formalism-debt-aesthetics-and-ai-art-new-yorker-writer-critic-chris-wiley/
WOW- I HONESTLY HAD NO IDEA PETER HUJAR PHOTOGRAPHED GEORGE STOLL (IN 1983). INCREDIBLE
Police in Illinois recover 650 rolls of toilet paper amid rise in homecoming week vandalism
<https://tinyurl.com/44wzryvt>
Would probably be a good time to introduce all of you to George Stoll’s
untitled 1990s artwork where he recreated two rolls of toilet paper
out of white silk chiffon, hand-quilted & lovingly embroidered with tiny roses.
In other news, George Stoll is brother of John Waters actress Mink Stole
<https://tinyurl.com/2huhzp69> _MichaelLobel
MISUNDERSTANDING NORMAN ROCKWELL by Sebastian Smee
<https://tinyurl.com/248bd98c>
<https://tinyurl.com/557ru2aw>
<https://tinyurl.com/ykwh5rj2>
In the 2nd half, available to Patreon Supporters of the show, we share former guest Greg Allen’s (greg.org) tribute to Smith, and more from Smee’s article on Norman Rockwell and David Lynch.
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