Art Institute of Chicago alters pointillist painting, lends it to San Diego in anticipation of parks opening

“Art is a living thing,” said Mayor Faulconer as he unveiled the revised masterwork, edited to illustrate the proper mode of social distancing as determined by the City in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. “Even if a work seeks to capture a particular moment in time, it is not static, because its meaning and appeal change with every generation of new eyes that look upon it. It’s not unfair to say that art responds to the times in which it is viewed. There’s a reason why Ronald Reagan thought High Noon was a tribute to the rugged spirit of the American individual, while others regarded it as a serious indictment of American culture. Given that, we should not be troubled by the Art Institute of Chicago’s brave decision to make George Seurat’s masterpiece respond to this time, this awful moment in history, by eliminating multiple figures — plus the boats, of course. As we begin to relax the City’s stay-at-home order and allow citizens to venture out into our fine parks to enjoy San Diego’s unparalleled natural splendor, it’s important that we have powerful reminders like this one to keep us from losing our heads.”