THE RIOTS AND ART

I was appalled by the art in “Burnout” (May 31) but not for the reasons Times art critic William Wilson probably would expect. Instead of being shocked into a healing attitude, I found myself enervated with a kind of passive despair.

Collectively, the art was a virtual orgy of gloom and hopelessness. Not one artist conceded the presence of grace and civility within the human spirit.

The themes focused on chaos, outrage and paranoia. What we need is idealism. From the televised mayhem of South Los Angeles, we know what rage, destruction and despair look like. It’s time that we see the visage of hope in the works of artists.

DAYLE KERRY

Santa Monica