Most of us prefer to hear and see things that are familiar to us. We do not want the unknown or the strange to intrude upon our peace of mind. Generally, works of art are accepted if they fit into prevailing popular concepts. But, if they emphasize different aspects and enter the realm of the unfamiliar, rejection frequently is their fate. The farther away from the familiar the artist goes and the more he or she arouses anxiety, the more initial doubts, questions, and apprehension of the observer may change into a defensive hostility which will over-ride the acceptance and enjoyment of the emotional impact. If the initial shock is to be utilized constructively, the work of art must be examined with an open mind and with a willingness to respect the amount of newness and strangeness that attends the creative process. They are no newer and no stranger than the scientific changes we accept so readily. Only then can we be ready to evaluate the experience to accept it or to dismiss it!
-Beatrice Orchard, fall 1968