;I suspect art doesn’t stand much of anywhere in the minds of US citizens, taken as a whole. If it did, the nation would experience robust public-sector support for art, from the regular commissioning of significant architecture by enthusiastic federal, state and local governments to direct subsidy of art museums and performing arts venues, large and small. Obviously we don’t—but don’t despair. Lots of Americans are crazy for the stuff, and they expend a good deal of energy making, looking at and talking about it. I don’t know how many of them live in Missouri’s bootheel—but then, how many people who can’t thrive without seeing the jungle choose to live in the desert?
