Contemporary art is often puzzling. On a walk down 10th avenue from 27th to 23rs Street in Manhattan there are a few galleries on a way. I usually pass down midweek when attending a lecture over at Aperture on 27th street. So my views were from the window and to be honest I have yet seen anything that would make me step inside one of them. I am amazed however the lengths some of these art dealers go though. On the corner of the 23rs and 10th stands a building which consists of a gallery with the standard white walls along with a little courtyard which has a display of contemporary culture. Last time I peeked inside it was nothing more then a giant sphere made of a either marble or some other dark shiny solid material. Settled in pebbles or gravel it sits there as an object by itself. So that is art and the value of it is high because it found its way to Manhattan.
I do think that Art has gone though a transformation due to time and history. But it seems any one back 150 years ago had a clearer definition of art was. When one saw it they could admire the skill/effort that went in there. It was visually appealing in some sort. The last 40 years have changed that. Its so much easier to critique art today. It seems the art dealer does the promotion to the highest bidder. Its like the Radio DJ promoting crap and calling it today's music. All this has become so chaotic that the culture of art has turned inside out.
But there are few exceptions to the Rule. Visual art such as Photography or Architecture still remains accessible to a viewer. Visual images which remain true to things we know or can imagine on our own offer an emotional reaction. Architecture give atmosphere and achievement in was we can touch it. Light plays a significant part in both. But this element is one we just see interpreted in a new but familiar way.

The photograph is of a building going up in midtown Manhattan. The contrast of the foreground older buildings and new architecture of background give a great representation of their history.